The Middle Colonies: Basic Ideas of Rights & Constitutional Government in the Colonies, Part 2

Summary

60-Second Civics discusses America's Middle Colonies, including Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These colonies were culturally diverse with a mix of European settlers and African slaves. They were more tolerant of religious diversity compared to New England and had a robust economy based on large farms, which supported significant regional trade, unlike New England's smaller, family-focused farms.

Takeaways

• 📝 The Middle Colonies included present-day Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
• 👩🏾 The population was culturally diverse and cosmopolitan, with residents living in large cities like Philadelphia and New York.
• 👩🏿 European settlers were diverse, including Scots-Irish, Danes, English Quakers, Portuguese, French, Germans, Welsh, and Italians.
• 👩🏿 Even in Quaker Pennsylvania, African Americans were enslaved until around 1850 despite the Gradual Abolition Act of 1780.
• 👩🏿 The region had Native American tribes like the Iroquois, who traded with colonists but also engaged in conflicts.
• 👩🏿 The Middle Colonies were more religiously tolerant than New England, with groups like Quakers, Lutherans, and Presbyterians coexisting.
• 💲 The economy of the Middle Colonies was based on large, abundant farms that produced surplus for regional trade.
• 💲 In contrast, New England's smaller farms were primarily for subsistence with little surplus for trade.
• 💻 The podcast is from the Center for Civic Education and is hosted by Mark Gage.
• 💻 60-Second Civics is a daily podcast focused on civic education.

Q & A

What were the states included in America's Middle Colonies?

The Middle Colonies included the states of Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

How did the Middle Colonies differ culturally from the New England colonies?

The Middle Colonies had a more culturally diverse and cosmopolitan population, often living close to each other in large cities like Philadelphia and New York.

Which European settlers were part of the culturally diverse population in the Middle Colonies?

European settlers included Scots-Irish, Danes, English Quakers, Portuguese, French, Germans, Welsh, and Italians, among others.

Was there slavery in Quaker Pennsylvania, and if so, when was the Gradual Abolition Act passed?

Yes, even in Quaker Pennsylvania, African Americans were held in slavery. The Gradual Abolition Act was passed in 1780.

How long did slavery persist in Pennsylvania after the Gradual Abolition Act?

Slaves were held in Pennsylvania until roughly 1850, despite the Gradual Abolition Act being passed in 1780.

What was the relationship between the colonists and the Native Americans in the Middle Colonies?

The Native Americans of the region, from Iroquois and other tribes, traded with the colonists, but conflict and war were commonplace.

How did the Middle Colonies' religious tolerance compare to that of the New England colonies?

The Middle Colonies were more tolerant of diverse religious groups than the New England colonies, with Quakers, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and other religious groups living side-by-side.

What was the economic difference between the Middle Colonies and New England?

The Middle Colonies had an economy that supported large, abundant farms providing enough surplus for robust regional trade, while New England had smaller farms that provided only enough food for the family with little left over for trade.

What was the primary economic activity in the Middle Colonies?

The primary economic activity in the Middle Colonies was agriculture, with large, abundant farms that produced surplus for trade.

What was the role of Philadelphia and New York in the Middle Colonies?

Philadelphia and New York were large cities in the Middle Colonies where the culturally diverse population often lived close to each other.

What does the term 'cosmopolitan population' imply in the context of the Middle Colonies?

The term 'cosmopolitan population' implies a population that is culturally diverse and worldly, often found in large cities like Philadelphia and New York.