Lesson 2: 13 Original Colonies
The thirteen original colonies would eventually become the first thirteen states. Each has a different history, but the commonalities would bring them together. The colonies were split into three regions: New England, Middle, and Southern.
New England Colonies
The New England colonies were on the northern end of the colonies. Settled by groups who wanted to be an expansion of England (with a few more religious rights), the people naturally called their new land New England. The New England area was difficult to farm. Colonists learned to use the natural resources to survive. Timber was in plentiful supply for building homes. Fishing became many colonist's livelihood. Trade of these and other resources with England was their main source of profit. Their homes were plain, though if they were rich they might have a two-story house.
Massachusetts - This colony was first settled by John Winthrop (Massachusetts Bay Colony) in 1630. The Puritans, as you read in Lesson 1, were very strict in their religion. The government was run through the Puritan religion. This made it very difficult for people with different views to settle or live in the Massachusetts colony, particularly since only male members of the church were allowed to vote.
Rhode Island - Six years after the Massachusetts Bay colony was created, Roger Williams started the Rhode Island colony. Rhode Island was to be a haven for religious outcasts from the Massachusetts colony and any others who wished to worship whatever they wanted. Religious freedom and tolerance were enforced. This would be the beginning of the separation of church and state that would prevail in the writing of the Bill of Rights.
Connecticut - Thomas Hooker, a minister from the Massachusetts Bay colony, led a group to Hartford (later to become the Connecticut colony) in 1836 because he believed that all men, not just church members, should have the right to vote. People moving to Connecticut were looking for more freedoms than were available in the Massachusetts Bay colony, but still wanted a strong hold on the Puritan religion.
New Hampshire - Groups who had followed Hooker continued to move northward, including a group led by John Mason. They settled in the New Hampshire colony (present-day New Hampshire and Vermont). The colony was named after John Mason's hometown in England: Hampshire. Eventually it would become a settling location for Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1700s.
Massachusetts - This colony was first settled by John Winthrop (Massachusetts Bay Colony) in 1630. The Puritans, as you read in Lesson 1, were very strict in their religion. The government was run through the Puritan religion. This made it very difficult for people with different views to settle or live in the Massachusetts colony, particularly since only male members of the church were allowed to vote.
Rhode Island - Six years after the Massachusetts Bay colony was created, Roger Williams started the Rhode Island colony. Rhode Island was to be a haven for religious outcasts from the Massachusetts colony and any others who wished to worship whatever they wanted. Religious freedom and tolerance were enforced. This would be the beginning of the separation of church and state that would prevail in the writing of the Bill of Rights.
Connecticut - Thomas Hooker, a minister from the Massachusetts Bay colony, led a group to Hartford (later to become the Connecticut colony) in 1836 because he believed that all men, not just church members, should have the right to vote. People moving to Connecticut were looking for more freedoms than were available in the Massachusetts Bay colony, but still wanted a strong hold on the Puritan religion.
New Hampshire - Groups who had followed Hooker continued to move northward, including a group led by John Mason. They settled in the New Hampshire colony (present-day New Hampshire and Vermont). The colony was named after John Mason's hometown in England: Hampshire. Eventually it would become a settling location for Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1700s.
Middle Colonies
Known as the bread-basket colonies, the Middle colonies were a farmer's dream. The soil was good and led to plentiful crops. Settled originally by Dutch traders, the English soon overtook the colonies. This would be a land where people from many cultures, nations, and religions would live with one another in peace.
New York - New Amsterdam was settled by Dutch traders. Soon, however, the English would overrun the settlement, renaming it after the Duke of York from England. Wall Street today is known as where the stock exchange of the United States centers. It's name originally came from the wall the Dutch built to keep the English out.
Pennsylvania - William Penn was the founder of Pennsylvania. Originally, he called the land "New Wales", but when people objected he changed the name to "Sylvania", which meant woods. Eventually, the name would be changed to Pennsylvania after William Penn's father. The colony was settled by Quakers, looking for a place to worship without ridicule.
New Jersey - Like New York, New Jersey was originally colonized by the Dutch and called New Netherlands. Rule of the colony was given to the Duke of York's friends - Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton. To bring people to the colony, religious freedom was advertised. In return for these liberties, colonists were required to pay taxes. It was nearly impossible to collect these taxes, so the colony would be sold to the Quakers.
Delaware - Also settled by the Dutch, Delaware was originally called New Sweden (yeah, doesn't really make sense). Once taken by the English, it was renamed Delaware, but was a part of the Pennsylvania colony until 1703.
New York - New Amsterdam was settled by Dutch traders. Soon, however, the English would overrun the settlement, renaming it after the Duke of York from England. Wall Street today is known as where the stock exchange of the United States centers. It's name originally came from the wall the Dutch built to keep the English out.
Pennsylvania - William Penn was the founder of Pennsylvania. Originally, he called the land "New Wales", but when people objected he changed the name to "Sylvania", which meant woods. Eventually, the name would be changed to Pennsylvania after William Penn's father. The colony was settled by Quakers, looking for a place to worship without ridicule.
New Jersey - Like New York, New Jersey was originally colonized by the Dutch and called New Netherlands. Rule of the colony was given to the Duke of York's friends - Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton. To bring people to the colony, religious freedom was advertised. In return for these liberties, colonists were required to pay taxes. It was nearly impossible to collect these taxes, so the colony would be sold to the Quakers.
Delaware - Also settled by the Dutch, Delaware was originally called New Sweden (yeah, doesn't really make sense). Once taken by the English, it was renamed Delaware, but was a part of the Pennsylvania colony until 1703.
Southern Colonies
The Southern colonies were best known for their cash crops (crops planted purely to sell to make money), the largest cash crop being tobacco. The land was swampy in many areas, leading to diseases (yellow fever) and, in many cases, death.
Maryland - Lord Baltimore was the founder of Maryland. It was settled as a Catholic colony and named after Queen Mary, the last Catholic Queen of England. Though originally created as a Catholic colony, a religious tolerance law was passed in 1649, fifteen years after the colony was established. In 1688, Catholicism was outlawed and Puritans would burn down the Catholic churches throughout the colony. Maryland had a plantation economy and became one of the largest places to export tobacco.
Virginia - Virginia was the Texas of today. Everything was better in Virginia. Virginia was the first English colony. Jamestown was in the Virginia colony. The first "congress" of the Americas was created here, called the House of Burgesses. Tobacco, as a cash crop, was first discovered in Virginia.
North Carolina - Roanoke was the first settlement in the North Carolina colony. After the settlement disappeared, another settlement would not be started until 65 years later. Originally, North and South Carolina were one colony - the Carolinas. It split due to size. North Carolina would get the less fertile ground, making it poorer than it's counterpart.
South Carolina - Charles Town (Charleston today) was the largest settlement in the Carolinas. It became valuable as a harbor for trade of goods, particularly tobacco, indigo, and rice. Plantation owners around Charles Town were the richest in the southern colonies.
Georgia - James Oglethorpe was the founder of the Georgia colony. His purpose in creating Georgia was to create a refuge for people in debtor's prison and other poor people, where they would be able to rebuild their lives. It defended the rest of the colonies from the invasions of the Spanish out of Florida.
Maryland - Lord Baltimore was the founder of Maryland. It was settled as a Catholic colony and named after Queen Mary, the last Catholic Queen of England. Though originally created as a Catholic colony, a religious tolerance law was passed in 1649, fifteen years after the colony was established. In 1688, Catholicism was outlawed and Puritans would burn down the Catholic churches throughout the colony. Maryland had a plantation economy and became one of the largest places to export tobacco.
Virginia - Virginia was the Texas of today. Everything was better in Virginia. Virginia was the first English colony. Jamestown was in the Virginia colony. The first "congress" of the Americas was created here, called the House of Burgesses. Tobacco, as a cash crop, was first discovered in Virginia.
North Carolina - Roanoke was the first settlement in the North Carolina colony. After the settlement disappeared, another settlement would not be started until 65 years later. Originally, North and South Carolina were one colony - the Carolinas. It split due to size. North Carolina would get the less fertile ground, making it poorer than it's counterpart.
South Carolina - Charles Town (Charleston today) was the largest settlement in the Carolinas. It became valuable as a harbor for trade of goods, particularly tobacco, indigo, and rice. Plantation owners around Charles Town were the richest in the southern colonies.
Georgia - James Oglethorpe was the founder of the Georgia colony. His purpose in creating Georgia was to create a refuge for people in debtor's prison and other poor people, where they would be able to rebuild their lives. It defended the rest of the colonies from the invasions of the Spanish out of Florida.
Assignment #3
1. Choose one of the colonies. Write a paragraph as if you lived in the colony describing what life is like. If you need more information than has been provided, make sure to include a Works Cited paragraph.
2. Name the colonies that were settled for religious purposes.
3. Which state was the "Texas" of the colonial age?
4. Which state was settled by the Quakers?
5. What happened to the Dutch colonies?
6. Research one of the following topics. Write 2 paragraphs about what you found out. Make sure to use MLA formatting and include a Works Cited section.
A. Salem Witch Trials
B. A founder of one of the colonies
C. Lifestyles (culture, living conditions, etc.) of settlers in one of the colonies.
2. Name the colonies that were settled for religious purposes.
3. Which state was the "Texas" of the colonial age?
4. Which state was settled by the Quakers?
5. What happened to the Dutch colonies?
6. Research one of the following topics. Write 2 paragraphs about what you found out. Make sure to use MLA formatting and include a Works Cited section.
A. Salem Witch Trials
B. A founder of one of the colonies
C. Lifestyles (culture, living conditions, etc.) of settlers in one of the colonies.