Differences Between Middle Colonies And New England Colonies

In the 18th century more immigrants settled in the southern colonies because in New England the lands were limited in extent and under Puritan rule, the southern colonies were more tolerant. There were many similarities in the structure of society and economy such as social mobility and self government. Some differences were caused by the amount of land available and climate. The culture and economy of the southern colonies and those of the New England colonies had similarities and differences.

There were some characteristics dealing with society shared by both the south and New England colonies. Culturally, the majority of people were of English origin, spoke English, and had English traditions. All of the colonies allowed religion freedom to some extent, some more than others; the New England colonies tended to be more strict about this. They were used to having representatives and the governments of these colonies had a representative assembly that was elected by eligible voters. There was no hereditary aristocracy or social mobility which allowed for greater opportunity and allowed Americans to raise their standard of living by working hard. In the households, most men were the leaders and English law gave
them unlimited power at home. Women were seen as subordinate and were very domesticated and had limited rights in legal and political issues.

The richness of American land and the mercantilism policies of Britain produced a society dependent on agriculture.
The quickest route to wealth was through land. Due to geography the opportunities in the colonies were different. In southern colonies the geography was very varied and farms ranged from small farms to large plantations. These colonies exported a lot of timber and tobacco. A shortage of indentured servants in this area led to the increased use of slaves. New England colonies suffered through long winters and rocky soil so farming was very limited and most farms were small (100 acres). These people profited mostly from logging, shipbuilding, fishing, trading, and rum distilling. Work was done by family members and occasionally hired
laborers.

In the 1700s, colonial population had grown and matured to the point that they could focus on cultural issues. Most colonial artists wandered in search of families that wanted their portraits painted. Because sources were limited most writers wrote about religion and politics. Education varied in the south and New England colonies. In New Endgland colonies because of Puritan 's emphasis on learning the bible, the first tax supported schools were built. In Massachusetts a law was passed requiring towns with several families to establish schools for boys. In southern colonies education was not as important and parents gave their children whatever education they wanted.

Because of their British decent, the colonies had many similarities. Due to their religious background and geography, there were also differences between the colonies. Culturally, the New England colonies were less tolerant and more religious and put more emphasis on education; while the southern states were more tolerant but less education based. New England had small farms and their economy was not as agriculturally based as those in the south and unlike the south they did not require slaves. As time went by from the first time the colonies settled they began to mature and gain their own personalities and governing policies.

Bibliography:Newman, John J., and John M. Schmalbach. United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination. New York, NY: Amsco School Publications, 10013. 13-15.