The 13 original British colonies in North America had diverse economies and cultures. The New England colonies focused on small farms, towns, seaports, and industries like shipbuilding. The Middle colonies grew wheat and other grains and had natural resources that supported mills, mines, and ironworks. The Southern colonies centered around large plantations and farms that grew cash crops like tobacco and rice using slave labor, with port cities and economies dominated by wealthy plantation owners.

1. for Unit 1A (sections 3.1)

2. 
Although the 13 original colonies all were
part of the British Empire they had little in
common

3. New England Colonies
•Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Connecticut
•farms were small
•many populous towns
•rich seaports, such as Boston
•industrious: small businesses,
milling grain, sewing clothes,
furniture making, and ship
building (also gun-making,
paper)
•emphasis on the Puritan Work
Ethic

4. Middle Colonies
•New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware
•“bread colonies” due to their
wheat and grain crops
•abundant natural resources
provided for sawmills, mines, and
ironworks
•major seaports: Philadelphia,
New York City
•industry and agriculture
benefited from immigration from
Germany, Holland, Sweden, and
others

5. Southern Colonies
•Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
•large plantations and small farms
•tobacco and rice were major
crops, also indigo and grain
•relied on slave labor
•major port: Charleston, SC,
Wilmington, Richmond, Baltimore
•very little industry and
commerce, primarily agriculture
•government and economy run by
the wealthy and influential
plantation owners
•many laws focused on controlling
slaves