Unit 2, Notes 4 The Middle and Southern Colonies

Middle Colonies

► New York and New Jersey

. Began as New Netherland

. Few settlers (1,500 people) so Dutch encouraged people from all countries to settle (allowed anyone to buy land in the colony – people came from France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, and other parts of Europe).

. In 1664, the British seized New Netherland from the Dutch with four warships and renamed it New York

. Some of the land taken was separated and given to royal advisers; this land was called New Jersey

Middle Colonies

► and Delaware

. British crown owed much money to the Penn family

. petitioned King Charles II (1680) for a grant of land between New York and Maryland to settle the debt

. Pennsylvania became the new colony named after Penn’s father Admiral William Penn

. William Penn was a Quaker: Christian denomination believing that Christians are guided by an “inner light” and had little need for churches, ministers, or even the Bible; rejected authority of the government to tax or force people to serve in the military; advocated pacifism (opposition to war or violence)

Middle Colonies cont.

. Treaty of Shackamaxon: treaty signed by Penn and the Lenni Indian tribe that ceded territory to the colonists and established a long lasting peace between them and the Indians

. Built Pennsylvania capital (“City of Brotherly Love”) on the land ceded

. Pennsylvania became center of religious refuge or “Holy Experiment” for minority religious groups such as the Quakers (Charter gave the right to vote to all colonists who owned 50 acres of land and professed a faith in Jesus Christ). . Penn later bought three additional counties that would unite to form the colony of Delaware

Southern Colonies

► Maryland

. Founded by Lord Baltimore (George Calvert) as a proprietary colony: colony owned by a proprietor or owner and could be managed and sold as the owner wished

. Baltimore was a Catholic so Maryland became a religious haven for Catholics

► North Carolina

. Carolinas derived from Latin word for King Charles II

. Colony grew slowly and primarily consisted of tobacco farms (small and scattered population) – did not have a good harbor, hard for ships to reach

. Later exported tar and turpentine

Southern Colonies cont.

► South Carolina

. First settlement named Charles Town (Charleston) after King Charles II

. Attempted to grow sugar cane but failed

. Deerskin became chief export

► Georgia

. Founded by James Oglethorpe for the purpose of starting a colony strictly for the imprisoned poor of England that couldn’t pay off their debts

. Provided a buffer zone between British colonies and Spanish colonies in Florida

. Named Georgia after King George II

. Became a prison colony to harbor the overflow criminal population from the British prisons