The Middle colonies | Period 2: 1607-1754 | AP US History | Khan Academy

Summary

In the 1600s, the Middle Colonies of North America, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, stood out for their proprietary nature and religious tolerance. Founded by individuals like William Penn, these colonies welcomed a diverse population, including Quakers and other religious minorities. Pennsylvania, in particular, advertised for skilled workers and became a haven for religious freedom, with a mixed economy of farming and industry. The Middle Colonies' moderate climate made them ideal for agriculture, especially cereal crops, earning them the nickname 'Breadbasket Colonies.' They also boasted a balanced class structure and significant ethnic diversity, setting them apart from their northern and southern counterparts.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Middle Colonies, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, were unique for being proprietary colonies owned by individuals rather than companies or the crown.
• 🌳 Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, who was granted land by the king of England to settle a debt, aiming to create a haven for Quakers and other religious dissenters.
• 🕊️ Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, believed in the equality of all people and faced religious persecution in England for not adhering to the Church of England.
• 🌐 Penn's vision for Pennsylvania extended religious tolerance to all, making it one of the most diverse and tolerant colonies at the time, even allowing Catholics and Jews, though they had limited rights.
• 🏙️ Philadelphia, the principal city of Pennsylvania, became the largest city in North America before the Revolution, attracting settlers with its promise of religious freedom and economic opportunity.
• 🌾 The Middle Colonies had a balanced economy, excelling in agriculture, particularly cereal crops like wheat, and benefiting from the timber industry due to the region's abundant forests.
• 🚢 The excellent ports in Philadelphia and New York City made the Middle Colonies a hub for trade, contributing to their economic prosperity.
• 🏡 The land ownership patterns in the Middle Colonies reflected the region's agricultural focus, with farmers owning more land than those in New England but less than the large plantation owners in the South.
• 🌡️ The climate of the Middle Colonies was mild, neither too cold like the North nor too hot like the South, making it ideal for a variety of agricultural pursuits.
• 🌐 The Middle Colonies were ethnically diverse, with inhabitants from various European backgrounds and Africans, leading to a multicultural society that was relatively uncommon during that period.

Q & A

What were the Middle Colonies, and which colonies were part of this group?

The Middle Colonies were located in the central part of the eastern seaboard of North America. They included Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

What was unique about the Middle Colonies compared to the northern and southern colonies?

The Middle Colonies were proprietary colonies, meaning they were owned by individuals who had the authority to set their own rules. This autonomy resulted in more ethnic diversity and religious tolerance compared to the northern and southern colonies.

Who founded Pennsylvania, and under what circumstances?

Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, who was granted the land by the king of England in exchange for a debt owed to Penn’s father. William Penn, a Quaker, sought to create a haven for religious dissenters.

Why were the Quakers persecuted in England, and what were their religious beliefs?

Quakers were persecuted because they did not follow the Church of England, which was seen as rebellion against the king. They believed in the inner light of God in all people, promoted equality, and allowed women to preach.

What made Pennsylvania's approach to religious tolerance radical for the time?

Pennsylvania extended religious tolerance not only to Quakers but also to all Protestants. Even Catholics and Jews were welcome, though they could not vote or hold office, which was unusual in a time when most nations had state religions.

What kind of settlers did William Penn hope to attract to Pennsylvania, and why?

William Penn hoped to attract industrious people, such as carpenters and blacksmiths, to help make Pennsylvania a prosperous colony. The colony's tolerance and availability of cheap land also drew settlers.

What nickname was given to the Middle Colonies, and why?

The Middle Colonies were nicknamed the 'Breadbasket Colonies' because they were known for growing cereal crops like wheat, thanks to their fertile soil and favorable climate.

How did Quaker beliefs impact their relations with Native Americans and their stance on slavery?

Because Quakers were pacifists and believed in equality, they lived peacefully with Native Americans in the early years of settlement. They also opposed slavery, unlike other colonies that relied heavily on enslaved labor.

What made the Middle Colonies' economy and class structure distinct?

The Middle Colonies had a mixed economy of both farming and industry, with moderately sized farms compared to New England and the South. Their class structure was more balanced, with a significant middle class and less extreme wealth disparity.

How did the Middle Colonies compare in terms of ethnic diversity and religious tolerance?

The Middle Colonies were the most ethnically diverse, with less than half of the population of English origin by the time of the American Revolution. They also offered more religious tolerance than either New England or the Southern Colonies.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Middle Colonies and Pennsylvania's Founding

The paragraph discusses the Middle Colonies' unique characteristics, including their proprietary nature and the influence of individual owners like William Penn. It details the founding of Pennsylvania by Penn, an English aristocrat and Quaker, who sought to create a haven for religious dissenters. Penn's vision for Pennsylvania extended religious tolerance to all, although Catholics and Jews had limited rights. The colony's policies attracted a diverse population, leading to Philadelphia becoming the largest city in North America before the Revolution. The Quaker's pacifist beliefs initially fostered peaceful relations with Native Americans, although this was disrupted as the colony expanded.

05:02

🌾 Agriculture and Economy of the Middle Colonies

This paragraph delves into the agricultural and economic aspects of the Middle Colonies, highlighting their suitability for farming cereal crops like wheat, due to the moderate climate. The abundance of timber and the excellent ports in Philadelphia and New York City contributed to a thriving trade industry. The land ownership patterns reflect the fertile soil, with farmers owning more land than those in New England but less than the large plantation owners in the South. The Middle Colonies had a mixed economy, balancing industry and agriculture, and a class structure that was more balanced than the extremes found in other regions. The paragraph also notes the nickname 'Breadbasket Colonies' due to their agricultural productivity.

10:04

🌐 Diversity and Social Dynamics in the Middle Colonies

The final paragraph emphasizes the extraordinary ethnic diversity and religious freedom in the Middle Colonies, contrasting with the more homogenous populations of other colonies. By the American Revolution, less than half of the inhabitants were of English origin, with significant populations of Germans, French, Dutch, and Scotch-Irish, and a small African presence due to limited slavery. The Middle Colonies' social dynamics included a strong possibility for upward mobility and economic prosperity, with a rapidly growing population. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the languages, faiths, and economic opportunities that characterized the region.

Keywords

💡Middle Colonies

The Middle Colonies refer to the group of colonies located in the central region of the eastern seaboard of North America, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. These colonies were unique for being proprietary colonies and having a mixed economy of agriculture and industry. They were also known for their ethnic diversity and religious tolerance, distinguishing them from the northern and southern colonies.

💡Proprietary Colonies

Proprietary colonies were territories granted by the English crown to individuals or groups who were given significant autonomy in governing them. For example, Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn as a repayment for a debt owed to his father. Proprietary colonies often had more freedom in setting their own rules, which contributed to the Middle Colonies' diverse and tolerant nature.

💡William Penn

William Penn was an English aristocrat and Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania. He envisioned it as a haven for religious dissenters and offered religious tolerance to many groups, including Quakers, Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Penn's vision helped make Pennsylvania a prosperous colony with a reputation for diversity and equality, reflecting his Quaker beliefs.

💡Quakers

Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, were a Christian group known for their pacifist beliefs, rejection of hierarchical religious authority, and belief in the inner light of God in all people. Quakers like William Penn faced persecution in England but found religious freedom in Pennsylvania, where they promoted equality and tolerance. They were also early opponents of slavery and advocates for peaceful relations with Native Americans.

💡Religious Tolerance

Religious tolerance refers to the acceptance of different religious beliefs and practices. In the Middle Colonies, particularly in Pennsylvania, there was a high degree of religious tolerance, allowing various Protestant sects, Catholics, and Jews to live peacefully. This was in contrast to other colonies like Massachusetts, where strict Puritanism dominated, and dissenters faced persecution.

💡Breadbasket Colonies

The Middle Colonies, especially Pennsylvania, were known as the Breadbasket Colonies due to their fertile soil and the abundance of cereal crops, particularly wheat. The moderate climate and good farmland allowed for successful agriculture, which played a significant role in the region's economy. This agricultural prosperity contributed to the region's nickname.

💡Philadelphia

Philadelphia, the largest city in the Middle Colonies and North America before the American Revolution, was a thriving urban center due to its excellent port and strategic location. It was a hub for trade and industry, attracting settlers from various backgrounds. Philadelphia's growth and prosperity were symbolic of the success of the Middle Colonies' mixed economy and religious tolerance.

💡Ethnic Diversity

Ethnic diversity in the Middle Colonies refers to the variety of national and cultural backgrounds of its inhabitants. By the time of the American Revolution, less than half of the population in the Middle Colonies were of English descent, with significant numbers of Germans, Dutch, Scotch-Irish, and French. This diversity contributed to the region’s cultural richness and social dynamism, which contrasted with the more homogeneous populations of New England and the Southern Colonies.

💡Pacifism

Pacifism is the belief in the avoidance of war and violence. Quakers, who were influential in the Middle Colonies, particularly Pennsylvania, were pacifists. Their commitment to peaceful relations initially allowed for harmonious interactions with Native Americans. However, as more settlers arrived and pushed westward, these peaceful relations became strained, marking the end of this brief period of coexistence.

💡Indentured Servants

Indentured servants were laborers who worked for a period of time, usually several years, in exchange for passage to the New World, food, and shelter. In the Middle Colonies, many indentured servants worked on farms or in industry, contributing to the colonies' mixed economy. This social class was part of the region's more balanced class structure, with a greater range of wealth and opportunity for upward mobility compared to other colonial regions.

Highlights

The English settlements in the 1600s along the eastern seaboard of North America included Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York.

The Middle Colonies, located south of Massachusetts and north of Virginia, included Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Middle Colonies were unique as they were proprietary colonies, owned by individuals rather than companies or the crown.

William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania as a haven for Quakers and other religious dissenters.

Quakers believed in the equality of all people and allowed women to preach in church.

Pennsylvania was advertised as a place for industrious people with skills like carpentry and blacksmithing.

The colony's religious tolerance extended to all Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, which was radical for the time.

Philadelphia, the principal city of Pennsylvania, became the largest city in North America before the Revolution.

Quakers' pacifist beliefs led to peaceful co-habitation with Native Americans in the early years of Pennsylvania.

The Middle Colonies had a mild climate, making it ideal for farming, particularly cereal crops like wheat.

Pennsylvania's abundant timber and excellent ports at Philadelphia and New York City facilitated trade.

The Middle Colonies were nicknamed the Breadbasket Colonies due to their agricultural productivity.

Land ownership patterns in the Middle Colonies reflected the good soil quality, with farmers owning moderate-sized plots.

The Middle Colonies had a mixed economy of industry and farming, with a balanced class structure.

Religious freedom in the Middle Colonies was unmatched, with citizenship extended to all Protestants and tolerance for Catholics and Jews.

Ethnic diversity in the Middle Colonies was high, with inhabitants from various backgrounds including German, French, Dutch, and Scotch-Irish.

The Middle Colonies offered strong possibilities for economic upward mobility due to thriving farms and businesses.

Transcripts

- [Instructor] Over the course of the 1600s

the English continued to settle along

the eastern seaboard of North America.

Now we've already talked about the settlements at Virginia

and those of Massachusetts

and a little bit about the settlement of New York,

which was first founded by the Dutch

as New Amsterdam in 1624.

In this video I want to talk a little bit

more about the Middle Colonies.

These colonies that were here kind of on

the center of the eastern seaboard,

south of Massachusetts and north of

the Southern Colonies of Virginia,

particularly Pennsylvania,

New York,

New Jersey,

and this little, tiny purple colony right here, Delaware.

Now what's unique about the Middle Colonies

compared to the northern or southern colonies

is not just that they were kind of in

a central location,

but also that they were proprietary colonies,

which means that they were the property

of individual owners.

So unlike Jamestown, for example,

which was founded by a company, the Virginia Company,

the colony of Pennsylvania was founded by one man,

William Penn,

who was granted his land by the king of England

in exchange for a debt that the king

had owed his father.

So in the early years of these proprietary colonies,

they were kind of the playgrounds

of the people who owned them.

They could set their own rules for the most part.

And that freedom resulted in colonies

that were more ethnically diverse

and more religiously tolerant

than their neighbors to the north or south.

So let's look at the colony of Pennsylvania

as an example.

So Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn,

and Penn was a English aristocrat

from a very good family who'd converted

to the Quaker religion.

Although the real name for Quakers was

the Religious Society of Friends,

they got the nickname Quaker because

they seemed to quake when they were in religious ecstasy.

Like the Puritans, Quakers faced religious

persecution in England because they did not

follow the Church of England,

which was a form of rebellion against the king

who was the head of the Church of England.

But in addition to the Quakers' strange ideas

about religion, they also had some strange ideas

for the time period about social status.

Quakers believed that all people had

the light of God in them and therefore were

more or less equal in stature.

So for example, women could preach in church,

as you see in this image right here.

So when William Penn converted to the Quaker faith,

Penn had a really rough time of it.

So he came upon an idea that perhaps he

could make a haven for Quakers

and for religious dissenters more broadly

in the New World.

So he negotiated with the king

who owed his father a debt,

and in exchange for this debt,

the king granted Penn land in North America,

which was named Pennsylvania,

sylvania being Latin for forest.

So kind of Penn's forest, Penn's woods.

And Penn decided to extend his religious tolerance

not just to Quakers, but really to all people.

All Protestants, no matter what their

particular sect, could have citizenship,

run for office, vote,

and Catholics and even Jews

were welcome in Pennsylvania,

although they did not have the right

to vote or hold office.

This was incredibly radical for the time period

when it was common for nations to have

a state religion and to persecute those

who didn't follow that religion.

Penn advertised for his new colony

and particularly hoped that industrious people,

people with skills like carpentry

or blacksmithing, would come to Pennsylvania

and make it a prosperous colony.

And they did.

The ease of getting citizenship,

the religious tolerance,

and the plentiful and cheap land of Pennsylvania

drew many settlers to the colony

such that its principal city, Philadelphia,

was the largest city in North America

before the Revolution,

with about 40,000 inhabitants.

Because Quakers were pacifists,

that is they did not believe in violence or war,

they even lived peacefully with Native Americans

in the early years of Pennsylvania settlement.

But as more immigrants of different faiths

came to Pennsylvania and began pushing west,

that short era of peaceful co-habitation ended.

Likewise, because Quakers believed in

the innate equality of all human beings,

they were not fond of slavery.

The environment in the Middle Colonies

was not so cold as it was in the north,

not so hot as it was in the south,

it was kind of middling.

And so it was a very good place for farming,

particularly cereal crops like wheat.

You can see this print here

shows wheat growing in this field.

And just as the name suggests,

Pennsylvania had a lot of wood,

so it was also a good place for timber.

And the excellent ports at Philadelphia

and New York City made it an excellent

place for trade.

Because it was such a good place to grow food,

the Middle Colonies got the nickname

the Breadbasket Colonies.

And the patterns of land ownership reflect this.

Since the soil was good,

your average farmer owned more land

than a New England farmer,

but not as much as a Virginia farmer

who would've had many acres to grow tobacco.

So much like the environment,

the farms in the Middle Colonies were

middling in size.

In fact, if I had to put the Middle Colonies

on a spectrum,

in many places I'd put them right in the middle

when it came to an economy

that was more agrarian.

The Middle Colonies had a little bit of both,

unlike the Chesapeake and southern economies

which were strongly agrarian.

And unlike the New England colonies

who began manufacturing quite early.

Likewise, when it comes to the distribution

of wealth in the Middle Colonies,

once again I'd put the Middle Colonies

right here in the center.

There were plenty of middling farmers,

many indentured servants,

and a handful of people who became quite wealthy,

unlike the Chesapeake where there were

a handful of extremely wealthy landowners

while most people lived at the bottom

of the social scale,

and unlike New England where small farming

led to a fairly even middle class.

So the Middle Colonies had a mixed economy

of industry and farming,

and a fairly balanced class structure

with people at many different levels,

putting them smack dab in the middle.

But for all of the ways that the Middle Colonies

were middling, there were also a few ways

that they were quite extraordinary.

Well, we've already mentioned that

the Middle Colonies had a level of religious freedom

that was virtually unmatched anywhere

else in the world.

For example, Pennsylvania extended citizenship

to all Protestants

and tolerated Catholics and Jews.

In comparison, the Chesapeake and Southern Colonies

required citizens to belong to the Anglican faith,

the Church of England,

and religious tolerance for the Catholic Church

in Maryland and New Englanders were extremely strict.

For example, in Massachusetts Bay,

anyone who was not Puritan

was expelled or executed.

Although there is of course the exception

of Rhode Island, where religious dissenters

could find safe haven.

The other extraordinary aspect of these

middle colonies was just the sheer amount

of ethnic diversity there was.

By the time of the American Revolution,

less than half,

only about 49% of inhabitants

were from England

or had an English background.

The rest were German, French, Dutch,

Scotch-Irish.

And just a few Africans as there was

relatively little slavery.

In comparison, New England was perhaps

the least diverse of the colonies.

Most people were English,

with a handful of remaining Native Americans

and Africans.

And the Chesapeake and Southern Colonies

were largely African and English,

with again just a few Native Americans.

The people of the Middle Colonies spoke

many languages, practiced many faiths,

and had a strong possibility of upward mobility

economically since farms and businesses

prospered and the Middle Colonies

grew rapidly in population.