Chapter 5 Lesson 1

1. Chapter 5Lesson 1 A. Geography of the Colonies 1. The 13 Colonies a. New England b. The Middle Colonies c. The Southern Colonies Pages 160-163 in SS text.

2. The Thirteen Colonies • During the 1600s and 1700s, many English settlers moved to North America. • Why do you think that they moved to NA? • Many moved for religious reasons. • Many believed that they had a better chance to make a living in NA. • Many also believed they would find more freedoms. • It was these settlers that established the 13 English colonies.

3. The Location of the Thirteen Colonies • Along the Atlantic Ocean. • To the N was New France. • To the S was New Spain. • To the W was the Appalachian Mountains. • They were a natural barrier • The geography & climate of the 13 colonies separated them into 3 regions: New England, the Middle Colonies, & the Southern Colonies. The colonies were located:

4. New England • NE’s geography was shaped by glaciers formed during the Ice Age. • As the glaciers moved across NE, rocks trapped in the glaciers cut deep valleys through the mountains. They scraped NE’s rich soil and pushed it S. • NE was left with thin and rocky layers of dirt. • Farming was difficult. • Summers were warm but winters were long and very cold. They growing season was short.

5. Growing Season The time of year when it is warm enough for plants to grow. NE had a short growing season. Most farmers could only grow enough food for their families. Very little was left over to sell. Cultural Regions

6. NE Geography • Farming was hard for the NE colonists. • With a short growing season, they learned to depend on natural resources to survive. • They used the wood from the forests to build ships and buildings. • They used the Atlantic ocean to catch fish for food and other products.

7. The Middle Colonies • The soil scooped from the NE Colonies stopped in the Middle Colonies. • Crops grew well here because of the fertile soil. • The climate was also good for farming. • They had a much longer growing season than in NE. • There were plenty of sunny days and good rain. • They had wide rivers that made them good for transportation. • Farmers used riverboats to sell their crops in nearby towns. • The nearby woods were full of animals. Colonists hunted and trapped animals such as deer and beaver.

8. The Southern coast was full of rivers, bays, and wetlands. The climate & soil of the tidewater were excellent for farming. The growing season was long. The climate was warm and there was plenty of rain. Southern Colonies

9. Tidewater • The water in rivers and streams rises and falls every day with the ocean tides. • The climate and soil produced by the tidewater were excellent for farming.

10. Fall Line • The tidewater ended at the fall line. • At the fall line, rivers from higher land flow to lower lands and often formed waterfalls.

11. Backcountry • The higher land on the other side of the fall line was called the backcountry. • The backcountry was “in back of” the area where most colonists. • It had steep and covered forests. • Colonists hunted and fished for most of their food.

12. Review: Lesson 1 • Why was farming difficult for NE colonists? Soil was too rocky and sandy The growing season was too short. The climate was extremely cold in the winter. • Why was farming in the Middle and Southern Colonies better than in New England? They had fertile soil. They had longer growing seasons. They had milder climates. • Why was the tidewater good for growing crops? Soil in the tidewater was rich and fertile. • What natural resources did colonists have in NE? Forests and the Atlantic Ocean Northwest Coast

13. Homework Essay Questions • Why would colonists want to settle near rivers and other waterways? Use facts and details to support your answer. • Compare and contrast the three regions (New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies). Use facts and details to support your answer. • You will need to use your notes and pgs 160-163 in text.