Question

Though we've compared and contrasted the regions over the last couple of weeks, let's dive deeper into the Middle Colonies. What made the Middle Colonies different than the other two regions, New England and the Southern Colonies? Why did immigrants flood into Pennsylvania in the 1700s? And what made the Middle the middle? In other words, describe an individual who would self-identify as someone from the Middle Colonies like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey or Delaware.

Answer 1

Answer.

The middle colonies included Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. In the 1600s, the Middle Colonies were characterised by greater acceptance and tolerance for people of different religions and cultures. The colonists were German, Dutch, Scots-Irish, Scandinavian, English, and enslaved Africans. Unlike the completely Puritan colony of New England, in the Middle Colonies, Quakers, Mennonites, Lutherans, Dutch Calvinists, and Presbyterians, Catholics and Jewish communities lived alongside each of their and the Proprietors allowed them to practice different religions.

Morever, in terms of socioeconomic background, The Middle colonies had some slaves while the New England colonies had very few slaves. This was because of the prevalence of large scale farming in the southern part of the Middle colonies where the soil was more fertile and the climate more suited for farming. Philadelphia and New York became busy ports and trade centers and Many artisans and laborers found work in these cities. Thus, the higher rate of economic opportunities and cultural diversity allowed a greater migration of people into Pennsylvania and the possibilities of trade along the major river system meant the the Middle Colonies truly represented the center of the United States.