Life in early America

Objectives/Standards:

Describe the contributions of geographic and economic

conditions, religion, and colonial systems of
government to the development of American
democratic practices.

Describe the geography, cultures, and economics of the

Southern, Middle Atlantic, and New England Colonies.

Describe interactions (e.g., agricultural and cultural

exchanges, alliances, conflicts) between Native
Americans and European settlers.
Teacherspayteachers.com
Jessica Giuliani
 Colony – What is a colony?
A settlement in a new area.
The first English colonies in North
America
were along the eastern coast.

Colonist – What is a Colonist?

An English man or woman that moves to
the new world of North America.
• Some Englishmen came for
religious freedom from the Church
of English.

• They wanted land and wealth that

they couldn’t have in England.

• They wanted freedom from the

King’s rule.

• They wanted a new beginning

• They want adventure.

• They wanted gold and riches.

• Self-rule

• By 1735 there were over

6 million English men
women and children
looking to the 13 English
Colonies here in North
America for a new
beginning.
Each colony was unique in it’s characteristics. However, they
are grouped together based on location, reasons they were
founded, and what types of industries they had.
New England Colonies
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Middle Colonies
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New York
New Jersey
Southern Colonies
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
 Puritans – Who were they?
The Puritans came to New England to
escape the King who punished them for
their religion. They governed a strict
colony that was based around the bible
and the church.

They had elected officials but they were

male. No women could serve in the
Puritan government.
The settlers here made a great
deal of money fur trapping.

Other economic
opportunities in New England
were based around the sea:
fishing, shipbuilding, and
whaling.

The soil was rocky and so

the New England Colonies
were not known for their
farms.
People in New England
towns lived, worked,
and worshiped close
together.

The meeting house and

the church were the
most important
buildings in the town.
 The Puritans settled in
Massachusetts. Because
they were so strict some
Puritans left
Massachusetts and
founded the other New
England Colonies. The
Colonies of New
Hampshire, Connecticut,
and Rhode Island were
friendlier more tolerant of
people’s differences.
-Quiz: What religion was
in control of
Massachusetts?

Name three ways in which

the colonies in New
England made a living?

What was the soil like in

New England?
By 1750, busy cities cropped up around the New
England colonies.

Boston became world famous for its shipping port.

 One room

One teacher

Very strict,
children were
often whipped for
punishment

The main subject

was reading
 The Breadbasket Colonies

A Nickname for the Middle Colonies because

they produced so much grain: Oats, wheat,
 Immigrant– What is an immigrant?
A person that comes into a country to
start a new life.
People came to America from many different
places to start a new life.

Diversity– What is diversity?

A group of people from very different
backgrounds.
The Middle colonies were an interesting place
to live because of the diversity among the
 The settlements here were
considered a Royal Colonies.
The King send governors
here to watch over the Middle
Colonies.

However it was difficult for

the King to have much power
over the colonies and many
colonies were considered to
be self-rules.
-The Middle Colonies
were based on
agriculture; small
farms that produced
many different crops.

-There were also

factories that
produced iron.
-Sometimes called the
“The Bread Basket”
colonies because they
grew so many crops for
making bread.

-The land was lush and

fertile.

- The wagon was

invented in Pennsylvania
and used for trade.
-Quiz: what crops
grew in the Middle
Colonies? Name
three.

-What was the soil

like?

-Name the four

Colonies in the
Middle?
 -This religion was a big
part of life in the Middle
Colonies. Although other
religions were welcome,
the Quakers came to
Pennsylvania to escape
persecution by the King of
England.

-Lived in New Jersey, New

York, Pennsylvania
 Overseer– What is a overseer?
Someone that was hired to watch slaves
as they worked.
Plantation owners hired overseers to watch the
slaves and make sure they did their jobs.

Indigo– What is indigo?

A plant that was used in making blue dye.
The farmers grew indigo plants. Indigo was an
important cash crop for the Southern colonies.
The settlers here, for the most
part, wanted to make money.

They brought their families

and the slaves worked the
land.

Many settlers here were rich

and owned large plantations.
A Plantation grows only one
type of crop. Very different
from the farms of the Middle
Colonies.
 -almost entirely
agricultural

-plantations were
abundant

-a large part of the

workforce was African
slaves

-plantations grew
tobacco, rice, and
indigo
-Slavery was legal

-Children born to
slaves became slaves
themselves

-Slaves were imported

from Africa.

-Slave traders made a

great deal of money.
• Boys normally went to
grammar schools while
girls went to dame school.

• There were no
chalkboards, maps, or
paper.

• School teachers were

strict and were allowed to
hit their students or make
them wear a dunce hat if
they were bad or said the
wrong answer.
 In the New England colonies,
children were taught to read so
they could study the Bible. Boys
got to also learn Latin and Math
and other subjects to get into
college. Girls could learn to read,
but they weren't allowed to go to
grammar school or to college.
In the Middle Colonies, most
schools were private. Students
also learned other subjects so
they could get into college. Girls
weren't allowed to attend (unless
they were Quakers).

In the Southern Colonies, children

were mostly taught at home. As in
the other colonies, Southern girls
did not go to higher schooling.
As colonists settled and spread across New England, they entered
land that was already lived on by Native Americans.
 The Native Americans and
colonists began attacking each
other’s villages.

They had very different ideas

about owning land. Natives
believed no one could own land
while colonists believed you
could own it if you claim it.

Arguments began to lead to war

resulting in lives lost. Some
tribes were nearly completely
wiped out because the English
settlers had many advanced
weapons.
Colony colonist Middle Colony slaves
Economy indigo persecution overseer
 Colony colonist Middle Colony slaves
indigo
Economy persecution overseer
1. A plant used to make blue dye. 6. To punish people for their
religious beliefs.
2. Someone hired to watch
slaves. 7. The Breadbasket Colonies.

3. A settler from a distant 8. How people make a living.

country.

4. Land overseas owned by

another country.
 1. Indigo
2. Overseer
3. Colonist
4. Colony
5. slave
6. persecute
7. Middle Colonies
8. Economy
 Decide which are facts and which are opinions.

On the next slide, decide if the statement is fact or opinion.

Then, tell why.

Fact: A state that is supported by evidence

and is true.

Opinion: A statement that tells what a

person might believe or feel.
 Decide which are facts and which are opinions.

1. The settlers traded goods with each other.

2. Farming families were the best workers.

3. Slaves were owned by plantation owners.

4. Leaders during this time were excellent speakers.

5. The Quakers had the best ideas about religion.

6. If children misbehaved in school, they would be punished.

7. Trading is a better way to run a community than using money.

8. The Southern colonies had many plantations.

Write 3 facts and 3 opinions about the colonists and
their lives by making a t-chart.
 Imagine you are a colonist from either the New England, Middle, or
Southern colonies.

Step 2: Write a journal entry of your life during this time.

It should be a few paragraphs long.

Step 3: Include your thoughts, feelings, activities around you, conflicts,

daily life, etc.

Hint; use a combination of the notes your took from this presentation, research
from your Social Studies book, library books, or internet to assist you in your facts.
 1 2 3 4
Too short, less than 7 - 10 total 11 - 15 total Appropriate length
6 sentences. sentences sentences. of 15 + sentences
split into 2
Not in journal form. Paragraphs are In journal form. paragraphs.
small.
Is in journal form.
Does not reference References daily Daily life is Daily life is
daily life. life sometimes. referenced, facts referenced, facts
accurate. accurate. Feelings
and thoughts some
great effort.
Is not clear what Is semi clear what Colony area is Colony area is
colony area you are colony area you mentioned. Facts clearly identified
from. No facts to are from. Some are clear. and described.
back it up. facts as evidence. Effort is above and
beyond.