Notes for Social Studies

New England 1. Massachusetts * 1620- Plymouth is founded. 120 people came to Plymouth. When founded, ½ of the 120 settlers signed the Mayflower Compact. People who convinced them to sign it were Miles Standish and William Bradford [governor of Plymouth]. Later, Plymouth turned into the Massachusetts Bay Colony (M.B.C) * 1629- M.B.C. formed. Goverener was John Winthrop. He called his colony a “city upon a hill” because he wanted it to rise above other cities. 3 important industries were fishing, ship building, and trading. (Because water related. Boston was a major trading area.) * Religion is important… Called Massachusetts the “Bible Commonwealth”. * 2 Dissenters: (a) Anne Hutchinson (Spoke out against church -> banished.) (b) Roger Williams (Changes MBC to separate from church -> banished and he forms Rhode Island.) 2. Rhode Island * Formed by Roger Williams in 1636 * Known for religious tolerance * Called the “lord’s debris” 3. Connecticut * Founded in 1636 by Rev. Thomas Hooker * Drafted “The Fundamental Orders” – a modern constitution. 4. New Hampshire * 1679. Created by Charles II * Used to be a part of Massachusetts
MAIN POINTS * Economy depended on ocean (fishing, ship building and trading) * Religion played a big role * Modern forms of Constitution * Soil and climate not fit for farming + plantation style (small farmers) * Town halls * Idea of self-made man

Middle Colonies (The Breadbasket Colonies)

1) New York/ New Netherlands * Originally established by the Dutch * NYC used to be called New Amsterdam * Established in 1623 * Set up by Peter Minuit * The colony wasn’t very organized * Many people from different countries settled there * Peter Styvesen was important leader, but not liked by the people * Charles II gives New Amsterdam + Netherlands to his brother, the Duke of York in 1664 * Peter Styvesen is forced to give up control of the area, to the English * Chief crop is wheat 2) Pennsylvania * Founded in 1681 by William Penn * He was a Quaker (Religious Society Of Friends) [people who didn’t support the Church] * Extremely well organized * Liberal * Disliked slavery * Good relations with Native Americans * Chief crop is wheat 3) New Jersey * Established in 1664 * Duke of York gives it to John Lord Berkley and Sir Phillips Carteret * Both end up giving it to the Quakers * Quakers spilt it into East and West Jersey * Quakers end up giving it to the crown of England in 1702 * Chief crop is wheat 4) Delaware * Established in 1638 by Sweden (with the help of Peter Minuit) * Controlled by Pennsylvania till Revolutionary War
MAIN POINTS * Chief crop is wheat * Breadbasket Colonies * Diverse community * Religious toleration * A good mix between New England colonies and Southern colonies * Mostly established by the Non-English

Southern Colonies 1) Virginia * Jamestown in 1607 * Chief crop was tobacco (cash crop) * Plantation system develops 2) Maryland * Established in 1634 by Lord Baltimore * Set up to be a safe haven for Catholics * Tobacco is their chief crop (plantation system) * 1649: Maryland Act Of Toleration 3) South Carolina * Established in 1607 by Charles II * Founded by 8 proprietors * Established to serve as a supply station for the English colonies in the West Indies * Plantation system * Cash crop… they grow rice 4) North Carolina (Tar-Heel State) * Populated by the poor small farmers who were pushed off their land in Virginia and South Carolina * Traits: resistant to authority, hospitable to pirates, considered their neighbors (VA and SC) as snobs. * Established in 1691 * Official colony in 1712 5) Georgia (Charity Colony, because they wanted to give people a 2nd chance) (Buffer Colony) * Founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe * 1750’s – Slavery * Great Britain wanted GA because they needed a buffer between SC and Spanish held Florida * Plantation system