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13 Colonies Founded
The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies on the east coast of North America which were founded between 1607 and 1732, stretching from New England to the northern border of the Florida. -
Virginia - Southern Colonies
Virginia was the first successful English colony. It began at Jamestown in 1607. The colony created the first elected legislature in 1619, which was called the House of Burgesses. Only white men who owned property were allowed to vote or be elected. The Anglican Church became the official church of Virginia and all of the people who were not Anglican had to leave the colony. My dad is from Virginia. -
New England - Massachusetts
The Puritans created the Massachusetts Bay Colony for more religious freedom. Religion effected the government severely. Only men church members could vote and serve the government. Puritans also had self-government. This meant that the laws worked for them. -
Maryland - Southern Colonies
The creation of Maryland started when King Charles I gave land to Cecilius Calvert, also known as Lord Baltimore. Lord Baltimore wanted Maryland to be a safe refuge for Catholics. The Toleration Act was passed. This was the first law in America that said that all Christians were free to worship in their own ways. Another key fact is that I am originally from Maryland. -
Rhode Island - New England
Roger Williams wanted more freedom so he founded Rhode Island. This was a settlement where every person could worship freely. Another person, Anne Hutchinson, was banished because she taught men about religion. Puritan leaders believed that only men could teach about religion, women couldn't. She moved out of Massachusetts and joined Williams in Rhode Island. -
NC and SC - Southern Colonies
King Charles II started Carolina. He did this to keep the French and Spanish away. Eventually Carolina split into North Carolina and South. My mother is from North Carolina. -
Slavery - Southern Colonies
Fewer than 500 Africans has been brought into the colony. During that time, the Africans and Europeans indentured servants worked in the fields together. As the plantation grew the planters began to turn more to enslaved Africans for labor. -
Life - Middle Colonies
In the Middle Colonies, there was a lot of diversity. Catholics, English, and enslaved Africans shared the land. This was because some of the proprietors there believed in religious tolerance, but some didn’t care as long the people paid for their land. -
Good Growing - Middle Colonies
Trade / Exports: The Middle Colonies were the big food producing region that included corn and wheat and livestock including beef and pork. They grew so much wheat that they were known as the "breadbasket" of the 13 colonies. -
Plantations Expanded - Southern Colonies
The growth of slavery allowed plantation farming to expand in South Carolina and Georgia. Enslaved workers drained swamps, raked fields, burned stubble, and broke ground before planting. They also had to flood, drain, dry, and weed the same fields several times before the harvest. They were treated pretty badly.
