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British America in the Colonial Period

If a foreigner asked an American what life was like in America, the answer would depend greatly on where a person lived in the country. That was just as true in the 1700s as it is today.

Overall, America's colonial population increased from about 250,000 in 1690 to 2.5 million in 1754, fueled by natural increase and political turmoil in Europe. Poor Scots-Irish immigrants settled in the wilderness of North Carolina and the Appalachian Mountains. Wealthier German immigrants fled war and religious persecution. They felt most welcome in Pennsylvania and pushed the frontier steadily westward.

This steady stream of non-English immigrants, combined with a significant American-born population, meant the New World was soon filled with people who had very little, if any, direct connection to England. Still, thousands of Americans fought on England's behalf in four wars against Spanish, French and Indian enemies.

In our modern, developed world, it can be difficult to imagine how isolated the colonies were from each other. We get news and information at the touch of a button. But in the 17th and 18th centuries, there were few roads that linked one colony to another, and few forms of information other than word of mouth. Most people received more news from Europe than from another region of America. So, each colony grew distinctly from the others, following the local patterns established by the earliest settlers.

Life in the Northern Colonies

Geography led New England to develop into a commercial and industrial region. The land and climate doesn't support large-scale farming, but natural harbors made fishing, shipping and shipbuilding profitable. Fast-moving rivers ran mills and machinery to manufacture goods. A strong working class developed.

Immigrants tended to come in families, and 90% of them lived in or near small villages along these rivers. Homes and businesses were literally built in rings around a common building, and there were often shared woodlands and pasture lands for livestock. Since New England farms were fairly small, homes were pretty close together.

This compact design encouraged commerce and made community schools practical. New England was the first region in which public education appeared. But the most important aspect of community life may have been the town meeting, held in the common building. These provided an opportunity for townsmen to voice their concerns and interests and planted the seeds of democratic government.

New England women enjoyed a higher social standing than their counterparts in Europe. A competent wife was an important asset in the new world. All women were educated, since everyone needed to study the Bible. They were even allowed to cast their husband's vote at town meetings if he were absent.

But not everything was perfect in New England. In 1675, a Wampanoag chief named Metacomet (known to the colonists as King Philip) organized local tribes in an attempt to exterminate all of the whites. He completely destroyed 12 towns, damaged half of them and killed more than 10% of the militia before the colonists finally defeated him. King Philip's War was the last time Native Americans played a significant role in New England history.

The Puritan church continued its powerful influence over government and daily life by offering the 'half-way' covenant - partial church membership to those who drifted from the faith. But dedicated Puritans continued to watch themselves and each other for signs of evil. In 1692, a few teenage girls in Salem, Massachusetts, came under scrutiny. They blamed their troublesome behavior on a slave who practiced witchcraft. Soon, they pointed fingers at other people as well. Over the next year, 150 people were arrested on suspicion of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death. In the end 20 people were executed, and at least five more people died in prison. Just as quickly as the hysteria began, the Salem Witch Trials came to an end.

Life in the Southern Colonies

Whereas Northerners came to start a new life away from religious persecution, families and homesteads weren't part of that picture. Adult male immigrants to the South outnumbered female immigrants by seven to one.

But few Southerners achieved the dream of owning a plantation. The overwhelming majority of them were indentured servants, slaves or yeoman farmers. A lucky few became wealthy planters who owned fabulous houses and vast stretches of land with their own access to the waterways.

The plantation system limited commerce and discouraged urbanization. Plantations evolved into little towns that produced almost everything they needed for day to day operations. Planters could import directly from European markets, and they could buy or hire a skilled servant to create items that weren't practical to import. With few cities, there was only a small middle class of urban professionals like teachers, merchants, artisans or lawyers. This meant there was almost no opportunity for social mobility. The distance between plantations made community schools and sometimes even churches impractical.

During the 1700s, the average life expectancy in the South was 10 to 30 years lower than other English colonies due to disease and malnutrition. This had a dramatic effect on the development of family life and other aspects of society. Few children reached adulthood with two surviving parents. A web of step-parents and half-siblings meant kinship was often a powerful factor when it came to connections in business or leadership.

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the 13 colonies: life in early america - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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The 13 Colonies: Life in Early America - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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If a foreigner asked an American what life was like in America, the answer would depend greatly on where a person lived in the country. That was just as true in the 1700s as it is today. Overall, America's colonial population increased from about 250,000 in 1690 to 2.5 million in 1754, fueled by natural increase and political turmoil in Europe.

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Video and game about 13 colonies

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Regions of the Thirteen Colonies - BrainPOP

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Learn the features that defined the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies, and set the foundation for America!

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Brochure ideas and rubric

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Reading passages about colonies, as well as project ideas.

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13 Colonies Printable Activities Terms of Use Policy

If you use these products or really like these products, please consider purchasing the entire set of documents below in one PDF for $2.40 from Teachers PAY Teachers

These activities can be printed, reproduced, and distributed to students by schools, teachers, or parents, free of charge on an unlimited basis as long as the MrNussbaum Logo remains intact.

Salem Slogan Parody: This activity requires users to create a highway sign for Salem, Massachusetts in 1693. Students must come up with a funny slogan that commemorates the Witch Trials of 1692.

13 Colonies Geography Map - This activity requires students to identify the each of the colonies on a map of the 13 colonies. It also requires them to identify New England, Middle, and southern colonies. Cut and paste activity.

13 Colonies Blank Map - This is just a handy blank map of the 13 colonies.

13 Colonies Symbols in Coins and Stamps - This activity presents some of the American coins and stamps that commemorate people of the 13 colonies or events that occurred in the 13 colonies. It requires students to think of a single, overarching symbol for the 13 colonies and to render it on their own stamp and coin.

13 Colonies Trades Word Search - Simple word search with words such as blacksmith, hatter etc.

13 Colonies Trades Scavenger Hunt - This printable scavenger hunt requires students to visit different pages of the MrNussbaum.com 13 Colonies Artisans and Trades exhibit to find answers to interesting questions.

The Charter Oak - This activity explain Connecticut's sacred Charter Oak and requires students to think about and describe the greatest hiding place they have ever had.

What Colony am I? - This activity requires students to read a colonial description and identify the specific colony.

The Ghost of Virginia Dare (NEW) : This activity requires students to create a "ghost" of Virginia Dare -- who reveals the secret of what happened to the Lost Colony.

Practicing Cardinal Directions with the 13 Colonies Map - This activity requires students to use their knowledge of cardinal directions to answer questions about the geography of the 13 Colonies.

New England Colonies - Informational printable with a map that details the geographic, climatic, economic, and religious conditions.

Middle Colonies - Informational printable with a map that details the geographic, climatic, economic, and religious conditions.

Southern Colonies - Informational printable with a map that details the geographic, climatic, economic, and religious conditions.

Jamestown Reading Comprehension (part 1) - 10 questions and passage

Jamestown Reading Comprehension (part 2) - 10 questions and passage

Jamestown Reading Comprehension (part 3) - 10 questions and passage

Delaware Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Connecticut Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Georgia Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

House of Burgesses Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Maryland Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Massachusetts Bay Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

New Jersey Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

New York Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

North Carolina Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Pennsylvania Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Plymouth Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Rhode Island Colony Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

South Carolina Reading Comprehension - 10 questions and passage

Social Studies Printables

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13 Colonies Printable Activities Terms of Use Policy If you use these products or really like these products, please consider purchasing the entire set of documents below in one PDF for $2.40 from Teachers PAY Teachers These activities can be printed, reproduced, and distributed to students by schools, teachers, or parents, free of charge on an unlimited basis as long as the MrNussbaum Logo remains intact.

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This site contains different ideas for 13 colonies projects. Choose the colony might be one to try this year.

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Jeanne Studio/Demand Media

Within 13 years, the United States became a nation of 13 colonies: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Rhode Island. These 13 colonies were the starting point for the modern-day United States, and the nation's founding is an essential component of a well-rounded elementary history education. Hands-on projects will engage the students and increase interest in the topic.

Choose a Colony

Jeanne Studio/Demand Media

Encourage students to learn more in-depth information about one specific colony. Assign each student one of the 13 colonies and ask them to act as a travel agent to create a brochure enticing tourists to come to that colony. Require the students to include basic facts about the colony, one or two famous landmarks, facts about famous people from that colony and several historical facts. Alternatively, group students and ask them to create a tourist campaign to present to class based on one of the colonies. The campaign could be presented orally or include a PowerPoint presentation or other visual props. At the end of the presentations, have the class vote on which colony sounds most interesting as a vacation destination.

Do Some Writing

Jeanne Studio/Demand Media

Ask each student to pretend to be a famous person from the time when the 13 colonies were formed. Have the students write journal entries as if they were those people. Encourage the students to write about historical facts related to that person to make the entries more authentic. Alternatively, ask each student to write a series of journal articles as if he were a resident of one of the 13 colonies. Remind students to include their feelings about historical events and what daily life was like in their entries. Assign students to pretend to be reporters and write newspaper articles about an important event that occurred in one of the 13 colonies. Students might also write about pretend interviews conducted with a founder of one of the 13 colonies.

Do Crafts and Cook Foods

Jeanne Studio/Demand Media

Ask the students to research daily life in the 13 colonies and make a craft project based on those facts. For example, students could stitch a small quilt, quill paper, make soap or craft a cornhusk doll. Have the students share their crafts with the class, explaining their significance and how they were made. Have the students prepare food to share with the class: Students could make cornbread, gingersnaps or butter, and explain the process to the rest of the class. Check for food allergies, however, before allowing students to share their foods with the class.

Expand the Lesson: Reading and Geography

Jeanne Studio/Demand Media

Reinforce the lessons you're teaching about the 13 original colonies with a series of short in-class projects designed to enhance the larger projects. For example, bring an element of literacy into the study of the 13 colonies by asking the students to arrange the colonies in alphabetical order, which also helps them remember the names of each of the 13. Bring in some geography by giving students blank maps to color and label the 13 colonies. Ask your students to draw a timeline, outlining the date each colony was added, as well as several important events that occurred in each.

Jeanne Studio/Demand Media

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13 Original Colonies School Project Ideas | Synonym

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Jeanne Studio/Demand Media Within 13 years, the United States became a nation of 13 colonies: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Rhode Island. These 13 colonies were the starting point for the modern-day United States, and the nation's founding is an essential component of a well-rounded elementary history education.