United States History Student Edition

04

The Middle Colonies

New York and New Jersey GUIDING QUESTION Why did the Middle Colonies grow?

READING STRATEGY Integrating Knowledge and Ideas As you read, take notes about why each of the Middle Colonies was founded and by whom.

By 1660, England had two groups of colonies in North America. In the north were the New England Colonies. In the south was Virginia as well as the colony of Maryland, which was settled in 1634. Between these two groups of colonies were Dutch-controlled lands. This area was called New Netherland. The main settlement of New Netherland was New Amsterdam, on Manhattan Island. This location combined a good seaport with access to the Hudson River. The river served as a major transportation link to a rich land of farms, forests, and furs. As a result, New Amsterdam became a center of shipping to and from the Americas. The Dutch West India Company, which controlled New Netherland, wanted to increase the colony’s population. To do this, the company offered large grants of land to anyone who could bring at least 50 settlers to work the land. To receive these grants, wealthy patroons (puh•TROONS) paid for the new settlers’ passage. In exchange, settlers owed the patroons their labor and a share of their crops. In the colony, the patroons ruled like kings. They controlled the land and the people, and they made their own laws and operated their own courts.

Middle Colonies

patroon wealthy colonial landowner

FLORIDA BENCHMARKS

• SS.8.A.2.1 • SS.8.A.2.2 • SS.8.A.2.4 • SS.8.CG.2.3 • SS.8.G.2.1 • ELD.K12.ELL.SI.1

This scene of New Amsterdam was painted in 1664, the year the city was conquered by the English. The painting portrays the Dutch influence, such as the windmill, as well as the ships flying the Dutch red, white, and blue colors.

Niday Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo

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The English Colonies Are Settled and Grow