Lesson 3: The Middle Colonies

Lesson Focus

After England's civil war, King Charles II rewarded supporters with land grants. We will explore how these proprietors founded the diverse Middle Colonies, attracting settlers with promises of land, freedom, and self-government.

People to Know

Duke of York, William Penn

Learning Objectives

• Describe the role proprietors played in the political and economic development of the Middle Colonies.
• Explain the key reasons for Pennsylvania's rapid growth, such as its policies on religion, government, and Native American relations.

After the English monarchy was restored in 1660, King Charles II wanted to reward his supporters and expand his empire.
He granted large areas of American land, known as proprietorships, to individuals called proprietors.
These proprietors were given the authority to govern their colonies. Note that to attract settlers and increase profits, they often allowed colonists to form elected assemblies, which helped establish a tradition of self-government in the new Middle Colonies.

The English viewed the Dutch colony of New Netherland as a wedge between their northern and southern colonies.
In 1664, the Duke of York sent a fleet to capture the colony. Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered without a fight because he lacked colonists' support.
The colony was renamed New York. However, its growth was slowed by large landholders called patroons, who discouraged immigration, and by conflicts with the French and Iroquois.

Shortly after receiving his land grant in 1664, the Duke of York gave the territory between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers to two friends.
These proprietors, John Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, created New Jersey. They attracted settlers by offering land and religious freedom. The colony was later sold to groups of Quakers.
Eventually, East and West Jersey were combined into a single royal colony in 1702 under the governor of New York.

William Penn, a member of a persecuted religious group called the Quakers, wanted to establish a colony for religious freedom.
Taking advantage of a debt the king owed his father, Penn received a grant for Pennsylvania in 1681. He designed a “Frame of Government” that included an elected council and assembly.
This plan guaranteed colonists a voice in their government and protected their rights, setting the stage for a thriving and democratic society.

William Penn’s policies were the key to his colony's success. He advertised widely in Europe, promising religious freedom and fair treatment.
Penn insisted on paying Native Americans for their land and gave more colonists the right to vote.
As a result, Pennsylvania grew rapidly, attracting thousands of diverse settlers. Pay special attention to the Mason and Dixon line, the colony's southern border, which later became famous for dividing free and slave states.

To ensure Pennsylvania had access to the sea for trade, William Penn sought more land.
In 1682, he purchased three “lower counties” along the coast from the Duke of York. This land had been previously settled by the Dutch and Swedes.
These counties, known as Delaware, were allowed to have their own elected assembly, though they shared a governor with Pennsylvania until the American Revolution. This action secured a vital trade route for his colony.