How did life differ in each of the three main regions of the British colonies?

The colonies developed into three distinct regions: New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies.

Each region developed a different economy and society.

New EnglandCold winters, short growing season, and a rugged landscape.

Middle ColoniesTemperate climate, longer growing season, landscape of fields and valleys.

Southern ColoniesWarm climate, long growing season, landscape with broad fields and valleys.

Climates of the Colonies

New EnglandGeography lent itself to fishing, lumber harvesting, and small-scale farming.

Middle ColoniesKnown as the “bread basket”of the colonies for exporting so much wheat and grain.

Southern ColoniesExported the labor-intensive crops of tobacco, rice, and indigo.

Industry

There were few African Americans.There were few African Americans.

There were more families and the population grew There were more families and the population grew rapidly.rapidly.

There was more economic equality.There was more economic equality.

Towns were established that supported local Towns were established that supported local schools and churchesschools and churches

Land was granted to men who banded together to Land was granted to men who banded together to form townsform towns

6 males for every 4 females!6 males for every 4 females!

New England-Social Characteristics

The population was more diverse.The population was more diverse.

There was more religious tolerance.There was more religious tolerance.

There was a variety of economic There was a variety of economic opportunities.opportunities.

Preferred by most European colonists.Preferred by most European colonists.

The Middle Colonies

• Enslaved African Americans often were the majority of the population.

• The population was spread over large areas.

• There was little economic equality.

• Communities could not sustain local schools and churches.

• 4 men for every 1 woman!

The Southern Colonies

The role of colonial women The role of colonial women focused on maintaining the focused on maintaining the home.home.

Few opportunities existed for Few opportunities existed for women outside the home.women outside the home.

By law and by custom:By law and by custom:

women could not own property.

women could not vote.

women could not serve on a jury.

Colonial Women

Colonial schooling options were Colonial schooling options were limitedlimited

To ensure that everyone could read the Bible, schools were required in all New England towns by the mid-1600s.

Outside of New England, public education was less available. Home schooling was prevalent.

Wealthy people hired private tutors or sent their children to England.

•Dame schools—for girls and operated out of woman’s home

How colonists got involved in European wars!

A series of wars between the European empires spread to the colonies.

Colonists allied with Britain fought against the French and their Indian allies.

•The French and The French and British fought over British fought over who controlled the who controlled the Ohio River Valley and Ohio River Valley and the Great Lakes area.the Great Lakes area.

French needed it to French needed it to connect their territory connect their territory in Canada and along in Canada and along the Mississippi to the the Mississippi to the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico

England wanted the England wanted the land for economic land for economic securitysecurity

The Fight for Control

In the French

and Indian War:

• Most Indians fought alongside the French because they treatedthe Indians with respect and generosity.

• The British treated Indians harshly and took their lands for farming.

The French and Indian War

•In the early years of the war, from 1754 through to 1758, the British were defeated by the French and their Indian allies.

•A young George Washington led an early battle against the French in 1754.

War!

•Will develop into the Seven Years War in Europe---France would pour so much into the colonial war it was hard to defend in Europe!

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War

•In 1758 and 1759, the British interrupted the shipment of French supplies and started to win battles.

•Many Indians deserted the French to fight on the British side.

•The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the war and greatly increased British territory.

The Treaty of Paris

• They attacked British forts and the new British settlements.

• They tried to weaken the British in any way they could, in order to lure the French back.

• The British stopped supplies to the Indians.

• British settlers quickly moved into Indian lands in western Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Indians rebelled.The British conquest was not good for the Indians.

Indian Rebellion

This Indian uprising This Indian uprising called called Pontiac’s Pontiac’s Rebellion Rebellion ended in ended in 1764.1764.

The British agreed The British agreed settlers would remain settlers would remain east of the east of the Appalachian Appalachian Mountains.Mountains.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

The BritishThe British The ColoniesThe Colonies

wanted more control over the wanted more control over the coloniescolonies did not want British controldid not want British control

wanted the colonies to help wanted the colonies to help pay for the warspay for the wars

wanted more land for wanted more land for settlementssettlements

wanted the colonies to join wanted the colonies to join together under the together under the Albany Albany Plan of UnionPlan of Union

wanted to maintain their wanted to maintain their individual autonomyindividual autonomy

wanted colonies to cooperate wanted colonies to cooperate in time of warin time of war

did not want to be unfairly did not want to be unfairly taxed by the Britishtaxed by the British

Tensions arose between the British and Tensions arose between the British and colonists after the French and Indian War.colonists after the French and Indian War.

Tensions Arise

unite the colonies under British rule.unite the colonies under British rule.

unite the colonies in fighting wars.unite the colonies in fighting wars.

create a continental assembly with delegates create a continental assembly with delegates from each colony.from each colony.

Colonial leader Benjamin Franklin drafted the Albany Plan of Union that would:

Albany Plan of Union

Franklin drew this Franklin drew this political cartoon political cartoon to to encourage support encourage support of colonial unityof colonial unity and his plan.and his plan.

The colonists and the British each rejected the Albany Plan for their own reasons.

Benjamin Franklin

Taxes, War and Taxes, War and RepresentationRepresentation

The French and Indian War changed the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain.

The colonists increasingly resented the erosion of their autonomy and the involuntary tax burden.

In the 1760s, the British placed new, unwanted taxes and regulations on the colonists.

Colonial Happenings