Lesson 2: Comparing the Colonies

Key Idea

The thirteen British colonies were not all the same. They were spread out along the Atlantic coast and developed in different ways. Historians group them into three main colonial regions to better understand their differences.

These regions are the New England Colonies in the north, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Each region had a unique identity. Its geography, economy, and reasons for settlement created a distinct way of life for the people who lived there.

Key Idea

People left Europe for a fresh start in the American colonies, but not everyone came for the same reason. Some groups, like the Pilgrims in Massachusetts and the Quakers in Pennsylvania, wanted religious freedom. They hoped to build communities where they could worship in their own way without being punished.

Other settlers dreamed of economic opportunity. They hoped to get rich by farming valuable crops or by trading goods. Some colonies were also created for strategic reasons. For example, Georgia was founded to protect other colonies from Spanish Florida and to give debtors a new beginning.

Key Idea

Since the king was far away in England, colonists created their own governments to make local laws. These governments were not all the same. Some colonies had governors chosen by the king, while others allowed colonists to elect their own leaders.

In New England, many towns used town meetings where male church members could vote on local issues. In other colonies, a powerful governor appointed by the king often made the final decisions.

Key Idea

The colonies needed many workers to build their economies, especially on the large Southern plantations that grew cash crops. To get this work done, colonists relied on different labor systems.

One system used indentured servants. These were often poor Europeans who agreed to work for several years to pay for their journey to America. After their time was finished, they were free.