A major historical era in U.S. History. The first English colonies were along the Atlantic coast....

EXPLORATION & COLONIZATION

A major historical era in U.S. History

13 Colonies: America begins

The first English colonies were along the Atlantic coast. The Appalachian Mountains to the west served as the western boundary of all the colonies.


The first colony was founded in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia.Powhatan Indians helped the colonists survive.


Many came to the colonies to escape religious persecution in Europe. Puritans settled in

the New England colonies

Quakers settled in Pennsylvania

Catholics settled in Maryland


Many early colonial cities were seaports, mostly in New England, in which religion and trade was a center of their cultural life. Virginia, New York,

North Carolina were primarily founded on commerce/trade.


The 13 British colonies could be divided into three geographic areas: New England, Middle, and Southern. Each of these had specific economic, social, and political developments that were unique to the regions.


Higher populations densities in larger cities were found near ports and rivers.Lower population densities were found in the Southern colonies, where the fertile soils led to a more agrarian economy and large plantations.

13 Colonies: New England

New England’s rocky soil and colder temperatures led to the primary economic areas in trade of furs, fish and timber.The Dutch initially settled New York for economic gains.

13 Colonies: New England

Boston was the primary city in the New England colonies.

13 Colonies: Middle Colonies

The “Breadbasket” was known for grains, flour, metal and goods.Philadelphia was the primary city in colonial Pennsylvania.

13 Colonies: Southern Colonies

Southern colonies had the best soil and climate for large-scale agriculture. Rice, tobacco, and indigo were primary products.


Slavery was important to the Southern colonies. Since the economy was agrarian, the slaves kept the plantation system profitable.


The transatlantic slave trade began when plantations in the West Indies needed labor.The largest percentage of slaves went to these Caribbean colonies.


In the political world of Colonial America, neither slaves nor free blacks were allowed to have the power of the vote.

Representative Government The role of

religion and virtue led to the growth of representative government.

Religious groups were the first to establish self-governing communities.

Representative Government

The following contributed to the growth of representative government in the colonies: Isolation of the

communities Long distance from

British system Familiarity with

parliamentary system


Representative government did NOT develop as a temporary step until a monarchy could be established.


The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were important to the development of democracy in the English colonies

It was a written constitution and is considered the first in the colonies.


The Virginia House of Burgesses contributed to the growth of representative government. Representativ

es were elected by the people.


William Penn believed in a government limited by the law.

He wrote Pennsylvania’s first constitution.


Founding Documents (in order): Mayflower

Compact-1620 Fundamental

Orders of Connecticut-1639

Declaration of Independence-1776

Bill of Rights-1789

The Colonies GrowBetween 1610 and 1700, the colonies continued to grow. The most growth

was in the decade of 1680-1690.

The colonies continued to grow to the west as more and more people came to the colonies

A major historical era in U.S. History. The first English colonies were along the Atlantic coast....

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