The Middle Colonies of British North America

The "Middle Colonies" (also called the Mid-Atlantic colonies) comprised a diverse group known for religious tolerance, ethnic diversity, and fertile agriculture. The core four are:

The Core Middle Colonies

1. New York: Founded 1624 as New Netherland (Dutch); seized by England 1664. Strategic port, diverse population, feudal manor system (patroonships).
2. New Jersey: Split from New York 1664; divided into East/West Jersey; unified as royal colony 1702. High religious diversity, small farms.
3. Pennsylvania: Founded 1681 by William Penn (Quaker) as a "Holy Experiment." Religious freedom, pacifism, fair Native relations, thriving agriculture (wheat) and commerce (Philadelphia).
4. Delaware: "Three Lower Counties" of Pennsylvania (1682); separate assembly 1704; shared governor. Similar economy/culture to PA.

Often Included / Borderline

• Maryland: Founded 1634 as Catholic haven (Calverts). Tobacco plantation economy, but geographically Chesapeake. Often grouped as Upper South or Chesapeake rather than Middle.
• Virginia: First permanent English settlement (1607). Tobacco, slavery, Anglican establishment. Firmly Southern/Chesapeake.
• North Carolina: Split from Carolina 1712. Naval stores, tobacco, small farms, less aristocratic. Southern.

Historians typically define the Middle Colonies as NY, NJ, PA, DE—distinct from New England (commerce/subsistence) and the South (staple plantations/slavery).