Interactions of People and Environment

1
Interactions of People and Environment

• Objective The student will compare and contrast
  life in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and
  Southern colonies, with emphasis on how people
  interact with their environment

2
Four General Areas

• Geography and Climate
• Economy
• Social Life
• Political and Civic Life

3
New England

• Geography and Climate
• Appalachian Mountains, Boston harbor, hilly
  terrain, rocky soil, jagged coastline
• Moderate summers, cold winters
• Economy
• Fishing, ship building, industry and naval
  supplies, trade and port cities
• Skilled craftsmen, shop keepers
• Social Life
• Village and church as center of life
• Religious reformers and separatists
• Political and civil life
• Town meetings

4
Check for Understanding

• Why did many New Englanders work as fishermen and
  shipbuilders rather than farmers?

5
The Mid-Atlantic

• Geography and climate
• Appalachian Mountains, coastal lowlands (harbors
  and bays, wide and deep rivers), rich farmlands
• Moderate climate
• Economy
• Livestock and grain, trading
• Unskilled and skilled workers and fishermen
• Social Life
• Villages and cities
• Varied and diverse lifestyles
• Diverse religions
• Political and civil life
• Market towns

6
Check for Understanding

• Why were the people in the mid-Atlantic states
  able to be both farmers and fishermen?

7
The South

• Geography and climate
• Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont, Atlantic Coastal
  Plain, good harbors, rivers
• Humid climate
• Economy
• Large farms/plantation, cash crops, wood
  products, small farms
• Slavery
• Social Life
• Plantations (slavery), mansions, indentured
  servants, few cities, few schools
• Church of England
• Political and civil life
• Counties

8
Check for Understanding

• Why were there so few cities in the South?