Summary
Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and 10 more… that’s a lot of colonies to remember! To simplify things, historians divide them into three regions: New England, Middle, and Southern. The colonies in each region shared similar climates, economies, cultures, and populations. Starting with Jamestown in 1607, England sent settlers up and down the East Coast of America in search of riches and resources. Native people had lived there for thousands of years, but many quickly fell victim to diseases and weapons brought by the English. Before long, the colonies were doing big business for England. The Southern Colonies took advantage of a warm climate and rich soil to grow cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo on large plantations. The North's climate was better suited to small family farms. Other New England colonists turned to fishing, whaling, and shipbuilding to make their fortune. The Middle Colonies boasted thriving port cities such as New York and Philadelphia, which became known for their diversity and religious tolerance. Press "play" to learn more about the similarities and differences that defined the original colonies.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Regions of the Thirteen Colonies:
- What is one new thing you learned about regions of the thirteen colonies?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining regions of the thirteen colonies.
- Draw or give one example of your own.