Maryland (1632)
Climate/Geography
Warm climate
Sufficient rainfall for farming
Long growing season
Fertile soil
Extensive river systems
Commerce/Production
Shipbuilding, iron works, and local textile manufacturing
Labor: Forced migration and enslavement of Africans and indentured servants from Europe
Farming economy based on large tobacco plantations
Good harbors for fishing and commerce
Culture
Proprietary colony: Government officials selected by the proprietor
Religious haven for Catholics
Religious freedom for all residents
Pennsylvania (1682)
Climate/Geography
Moderate, temperate climate
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Sufficient rainfall for farming
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Many lakes, rivers, and good harbors
Commerce/Production
In the “breadbasket” of colonial America: Plentiful corn and wheat grown on farms
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Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
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Small textiles and iron businesses
Culture
Proprietary colony: Major government officials selected by the proprietor
William Penn sought religious haven for Quakers
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Religious freedom for all residents
New Hampshire (1629)
Climate/Geography
Long, cold winters
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Moderate summers
Dense forests
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Rocky soil
Mountains and steep hills
Commerce/Production
Mostly family farms
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Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
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Fishing, whaling, logging
Culture
Royal colony: Government officials selected by the king
Mostly Puritan population
Town meetings: The beginning of direct democracy
Massachusetts (1628)
Climate/Geography
Long, cold winters
Moderate summers
Plentiful forests
-
Rocky soil
Commerce/Production
Mostly family farms
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Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
-
Fishing, whaling, logging
Culture
Royal colony: Government officials selected by the king
-
Mostly Puritan population
-
Town meetings: The beginning of direct democracy
Rhode Island (1636)
Climate/Geography
Long, cold winters
Moderate summers
Plentiful forests
-
Rocky soil
Commerce/Production
Mostly family farms
-
Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
-
Fishing, whaling, logging
Culture
Charter colony: Government officials selected by the people
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Founded by Roger Williams with religious freedom for all residents
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Town meetings: The beginning of direct democracy
Connecticut (1636)
Climate/Geography
Long, cold winters
Moderate summers
Plentiful forests
-
Rocky soil
Commerce/Production
Mostly family farms
-
Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
-
Fishing, whaling, logging
Culture
Charter colony: Government officials selected by the people
-
Founded by Thomas Hooker with religious freedom for all
-
Town meetings: The beginning of direct democracy
New York (1626)
Climate/Geography
Moderate, temperate climate
-
Sufficient rainfall for farming
-
Many lakes, rivers, and good harbors
-
Fertile soil
Commerce/Production
In the “breadbasket” of colonial America: Plentiful corn and wheat grown on farms
-
Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
-
Small textiles and iron businesses
Raising livestock
Fur trading with Native American tribes
Culture
Royal colony: Major government officials selected by the king
-
Religion: Primarily the Anglican Church. Some smaller congregations of other religions, including Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and Jews
Growing gap between upper classes (government officials, large landowners, and prosperous merchants) and lower classes (small farmers, craftsmen, laborers, and shopkeepers)
New Jersey (1664)
Climate/Geography
Moderate, temperate climate
-
Sufficient rainfall for farming
-
Many lakes, rivers, and good harbors
-
Fertile soil
Commerce/Production
In the “breadbasket” of colonial America: Plentiful corn and wheat grown on farms
-
Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
-
Small textiles and iron businesses
-
Raising livestock
-
Fur trading with Native American tribes
Culture
Royal colony: Major government officials selected by the king
-
Religious freedom for all residents
Simple living in self-built wooden homes and homemade furnishings, tools, and utensils
Delaware (1664)
Climate/Geography
Moderate, temperate climate
-
Sufficient rainfall for farming
-
Many lakes, rivers, and good harbors
-
Fertile soil
Commerce/Production
In the “breadbasket” of colonial America: Plentiful corn and wheat grown on farms
-
Labor supplemented by indentured servants and enslaved Native American and African people
-
Small textiles and iron businesses
Culture
Proprietary colony: Major government officials selected by the proprietor
-
Religious freedom for all residents
Many diverse European immigrants (Dutch, Swedes, Finns, French, Scots, and British)
Virginia (1607)
Climate/Geography
Warm climate
-
Sufficient rainfall for farming
-
Long growing season
-
Fertile soil
-
The Appalachian Mountains: a natural barrier between the English and French colonies in North America
Commerce/Production
Good harbors for commerce and transportation
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Labor: Forced migration and enslavement of Africans and indentured servants from Europe
-
Farming economy based on large tobacco plantations
Culture
Royal colony: Major government officials selected by the king
-
Anglican Church became the “established” church of the colony
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Growing gap between upper classes (government officials, large landowners, and prosperous merchants) and lower classes (small farmers, craftsmen, laborers, and shopkeepers)
North Carolina (1653)
Climate/Geography
Warm climate
-
Long growing season
-
Mountain ranges and plateaus
Coastal plains
Commerce/Production
Cash crops of tobacco, cotton, and rice
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Labor: Forced migration and enslavement of Africans, some indentured servants from Europe
-
Good harbors for fishing and commerce
Culture
Royal colony: Major government officials selected by the king
-
Religious freedom for all residents
-
Growing gap between upper classes (government officials, large landowners, and prosperous merchants) and lower classes (small farmers, craftsmen, laborers, and shopkeepers)
Georgia (1732)
Climate/Geography
Warm climate
-
Long growing season
-
Hilly coastal plains
-
Plentiful forests
Commerce/Production
Cash crops of tobacco, cotton, rice
Labor: Forced migration and enslavement of Africans, some indentured servants from Europe
-
Good harbors for fishing and commerce
Culture
Refuge for persecuted English Protestants and poor and indebted people
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Royal charter: Governed by twenty trustees
“Melting pot” of Protestant sects, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Puritans, Quakers
South Carolina (1663)
Climate/Geography
Warm climate
Commerce/Production
Cash crops of tobacco, cotton, rice
-
Labor: Forced migration and enslavement of Africans, some indentured servants from Europe
-
Good harbors for fishing and commerce
Culture
Royal colony: Major government officials selected by the king
-
Religious freedom for all residents
-
Growing gap between upper classes (government officials, large landowners, and prosperous merchants) and lower classes (small farmers, craftsmen, laborers, and shopkeepers)
