Section 3

Objectives

• Explain the impact of geography on the

economies of the New England, Middle, and
Southern colonies.

• Compare and contrast differences in the

social structure of the three major colonial
regions.

• Describe the cultural life in the British

colonies.

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

Terms and People

• staple crop – crops that are in steady demand
• cash crop – crops grown for sale
• dame school – a private school for girls that was
operated out of a woman’s home

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

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.

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

New England
Cold winters, short growing
season, and a rugged
landscape.

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

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

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

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

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

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

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War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

By the mid-1700s,
the population of
the colonies was
rapidly increasing.

Based on their
populations, the
three regions
developed different
social patterns.

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War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

In New England:

• There were few African Americans.

• There were more families and the

population grew rapidly.

• There was more economic equality.

• Towns were established that

supported local schools and
churches.

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War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

In the Middle Colonies:

• The population was more diverse.

• There was more religious tolerance.

• There was a variety of economic

opportunities.

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Regional Cultures
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In the Southern 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.

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War Begins
Regional Cultures
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The role of colonial women

focused on maintaining the home.

Few opportunities existed for

women outside the home.

By law and by custom:

women could not own property.

women could not vote.

women could not serve on a jury.

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War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

Colonial schooling options were limited

To ensure that Outside of New Wealthy people

everyone could England, public hired private tutors
read the Bible, education was or sent their
schools were less available. children to
required in all Home schooling England.
New England was prevalent.
towns by the
mid-1600s.

The few colonial colleges were very costly.

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

Though most
colonists attended
only grammar
schools, they were
better educated
than average
Europeans.

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures
Section 3

Section Review

QuickTake Quiz Know It, Show It Quiz

The Cold
Comparing
War Begins
Regional Cultures