Regions of the Thirteen Colonies

For many people in England in the 1500s, North America was a land of opportunity. The London Company (later called the Virginia Company) paid for settlers to move to America. The settlers then repaid them with the money they earned in their new land.

At that time, there were no states in North America. Thirteen colonies existed that were settled by European colonists. These colonies were separated into three regions, the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. New England Colonies The New England Colonies included Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower to America. The Pilgrims were Puritans who wanted to be able to practice their religion freely. Upon landing in America, the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Due to religious disagreements among the Puritans, Thomas Hooker, Roger Williams, and Captain John Mason established the colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

The New England Colonies experienced long, cold winters and mild summers. Due to the weather conditions, New England was not a good place to farm. The ocean provided income for the colonists in the form of fishing, whaling, and shipbuilding. Middle Colonies The Middle Colonies included Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

In 1624, Charles II took the land now known as New York from the Dutch and gave it

Page 1 of 3 visit twinkl.com Regions of the Thirteen Colonies to his brother the Duke of York. The Duke of York then took part of the land and gave it to his good friends, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkley. Carteret and Berkley separated the land into East Jersey and West Jersey. Then they joined together in 1702 to form New Jersey.

Charles II gave the land of the Pennsylvania Colony to William Penn, and it soon became a successful colony. Penn allowed Delaware to become a separate colony.

The Middle Colonies were perfect for growing wheat and other grains. They soon became known as the "Bread Basket Colonies" because of the high-quality crops. Southern Colonies The Southern Colonies included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The Maryland Colony was established by Cecilius Calvert. It was a place for Catholics to practice their religion freely.

The Georgia Colony, founded by James Oglethorpe, was named after England’s King George II. Oglethorpe had an interesting plan for Georgia. He wanted it to be a place for poor people to escape debt and become prosperous.

Tobacco, rice, cotton, and indigo were the main crops grown in the Southern Colonies. The mild weather, fertile soil, and long growing season in the south led to the development of plantations.

Page 2 of 3 visit twinkl.com Regions of the Thirteen Colonies Questions 1. How many regions were the Thirteen Colonies divided into? two three four five 2. In the 1500s, how many states were in North America? fifty three five zero 3. Massachusetts separated into different colonies because .

there were religious differences. the climate was challenging. some wanted to farm and some wanted to fish. the colonists wanted a change. 4. Which region was the best for farming?

6. Which colonies would you live in given a choice? Give two reasons to support your response.

Page 3 of 3 visit twinkl.com Regions of the Thirteen Colonies Answers 1. How many regions were the Thirteen Colonies divided into? two three four five 2. In the 1500s, how many states were in North America? fifty three five zero 3. Massachusetts separated into different colonies because

there were religious differences. the climate was challenging. some wanted to farm and some wanted to fish. the colonists wanted a change. 4. Which region was the best for farming?

the Southern Colonies the Middle Colonies the Northern Colonies the New England Colonies 5. Do you think James Oglethorpe had a good plan for the colony of Georgia? Give two reasons to support your answer. Answers may vary. A possible answer is: Yes, I think James Oglethorpe had a good plan for the colony of Georgia because it gave people a fresh start and allowed them an opportunity to do something productive with their lives.

6. Which colonies would you live in given a choice? Give two reasons to support your response. Answers may vary. A possible answer is: I would like to live in the New England Colonies, because I would like to learn to build ships. I also love to eat fish.

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