Review of the 13 Colonies

Introduction

Presenter: Tom Ritchie from Fivable
Purpose: Review for AP US History students, exam preparation
Focus on understanding the three colonial regions, not all 13 colonies
Key colonies: Massachusetts (New England), Pennsylvania (Middle), Virginia (Southern, Chesapeake)

New England Colonies: Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Middle Colonies: Pennsylvania, New York
Southern Colonies: Maryland, Virginia, Carolinas
- Chesapeake Colonies: Maryland and Virginia (Chesapeake Bay confusion)

New England
- Non-agricultural, focused on shipping, trade, commerce
- Subsistence farming, not for-profit agriculture
- Industries: Fishing, timber, shipbuilding
Middle Colonies
- Agricultural, staple crops (breadbasket of the colonies)
- Crops: Corn, wheat, oats (Quaker Oats association with Pennsylvania)
Southern Colonies
- Agricultural, cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo)
- Chesapeake: Mostly tobacco; Rice and indigo unique to South Carolina
- Note: Cotton not a major cash crop during this period

New England
- Puritans and separatists (Calvinists)
- Puritans: Purify the Church of England; Separatists: Separate
- "City on a Hill" concept by John Winthrop
- Religious dissenters: Roger Williams, Ann Hutchinson
Middle Colonies
- Pennsylvania founded by William Penn (Quaker, full toleration)
- Other colonies (New York, New Jersey): Church of England
Southern Colonies
- Maryland: Christian toleration
- Virginia, Carolinas: Established Anglican Church
- South: Least religious at this time

New England
- More egalitarian, democratic processes (Mayflower Compact)
- Town meetings for decision making
Middle Colonies
- Pennsylvania: Proprietary colony, Penn's Frame of Government
- Types of colonies: Royal, joint-stock, proprietary
Southern Colonies
- Aristocratic society, large landowners (planters)
- Virginia House of Burgesses: First representative government body
- Emphasis on tradition of representative government