The Thirteen Colonies
The New England Colonies Massachusetts Bay Leader: John Winthrop Reason Founded: These colonists wanted to practice their religious beliefs. They wanted this colony to be an example of Christian living. Anyone who did not follow the strict rules of this colony was punished or expelled. Rhode Island Leader: Roger Williams Reason Founded: Roger had lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was expelled from the colony because he believed in the separation of church and state. He went to live with the Narragansett tribe for a while and later bought land from them that he named Providence. Providence later joined with another settlement to form the colony of Rhode Island. Connecticut Leader: Thomas Hooker Reason Founded: He disagreed with the rules the leaders of Massachusetts were creating. He left and founded Hartford which later became part of Connecticut. New Hampshire Leader: David Thomson Reason Founded: He created a fishing settlement to make money and called it Portsmouth. Portsmouth later joined with other colonies to become the colony of New Hampshire. The New England Colonies Major Resources Produced Farm crops & products Products from the forest (ex. lumber) Whaling Fishing Fur
The Middle Colonies New York Leader: James Duke of York Reason Founded: King Charles II gave his brother James land that was already owned by the Dutch. James sent four warships to conquer the Dutch colony of New Netherland. James was successful and split the colony into two new colonies that he called New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Leader: John Berkeley and George Carteret Reason Founded: It was the same reason as New York. James gave this colony to his friends John and George after he made it into a colony. Pennsylvania Leader: William Penn Reason Founded: King Charles II gave William this land because he owed William s father money. This was the King s way of paying off his debt. William wanted this colony to be a place that Quakers and people of other religions could live together peacefully. He created a government that gave the people of Pennsylvania important rights and freedoms. Delaware Leader: William Penn Reason Founded: The Duke of York gave Penn control of this colony in 1682. William Penn eventually gave this colony it s own assembly in 1704. The Middle Colonies Major Resources Produced Farm crops & products (wheat, grains, flour, salted meat) Lumber Fur
Maryland The Southern Colonies Leader: The Calvert Family Reason Founded: George Calvert, the father of Cecilius and Leonard, asked for a charter for this colony from King Charles I to make money. His plan was to make this land into a colony where he would earn money and would also be able to practice the Catholic religion freely. Catholics at this time in history could not freely practice their religion in England. George died before the land was officially given to him so the land was given to his son Cecilius instead. Cecilius later made his brother Leonard the governor of this colony. Virginia Leader: The King controlled this land (While it was originally settled by several different men it was eventually taken over by the King because of problems with the Powhatan Indians.) Reason Founded: The Virginia colonies were founded so that England could collect lumber and other resources. The people living in Jamestown were sent by merchants and came to get rich and find gold. Many of the original colonists died because they were lazy and did not want to work. North Carolina & South Carolina Leader: The Lords Proprietors Reason Founded: King Charles II wanted more land. He granted land that was named Carolina to a group of eight people called the Lords Proprietors. They later divided their colony into two colonies called North Carolina and South Carolina. The leaders of this colony did create a constitution to allow white men to make some of their own laws but most of the power still belonged to the king and the Lords Proprietors. Georgia Leader: James Oglethorpe Reason Founded: King George wanted control of some land that had been claimed by France and Spain. A wealthy English Leader named James Oglethorpe came up with the idea to send English debtors, people who were in prison for owing money, to the colonies. In return for their freedom from prison the debtors could protect the land from other countries. The Southern Colonies Major Resources Produced Farm crops & products (tobacco, indigo, and rice) Products from the forest (ex. lumber)