They focused on shipbuilding and agriculture and had a strong economy. The middle colonies acquired people of different cultures and religions. These colonists were German, Dutch, Scot-Irish, Scandinavian, enslaved Africans, but many of them were English (Foner, Give Me Liberty). William Penn believes “people of all religions should live together in peace” (Foner, Give Me Liberty), therefore the owner of the land in this colony allowed the colonist to practice different religions. Other owners did not care about religious beliefs, all they really wanted was for the colonists to either buy or rent land. Although the English continue religious freedom, women lost property rights and free African Americans were prohibited from plying their trades. Many families living in the Middle Colonies were farmers. The climate and soil were great for farming. Many farmers grew more than they needed and could sell extra grains and livestock in the cities. This colony was considered to have a “free market economy.” They could sell their goods to other cities and nations. Colonists were free to do what they wanted and what they thought would help them become wealthy, this was called free enterprise (Foner, Give Me
They focused on shipbuilding and agriculture and had a strong economy. The middle colonies acquired people of different cultures and religions. These colonists were German, Dutch, Scot-Irish, Scandinavian, enslaved Africans, but many of them were English (Foner, Give Me Liberty). William Penn believes “people of all religions should live together in peace” (Foner, Give Me Liberty), therefore the owner of the land in this colony allowed the colonist to practice different religions. Other owners did not care about religious beliefs, all they really wanted was for the colonists to either buy or rent land. Although the English continue religious freedom, women lost property rights and free African Americans were prohibited from plying their trades. Many families living in the Middle Colonies were farmers. The climate and soil were great for farming. Many farmers grew more than they needed and could sell extra grains and livestock in the cities. This colony was considered to have a “free market economy.” They could sell their goods to other cities and nations. Colonists were free to do what they wanted and what they thought would help them become wealthy, this was called free enterprise (Foner, Give Me