Colonies

Settled by English, Dutch, and German speaking immigrants

Settlers practiced direct democracy through town meetings

Formed a “covenant community” based on the principles of the Mayflower Compact

Economy based on shipbuilding, fishing, lumbering, and eventually manufacturing

Home to multiple religious groups including, Quakers, Jews, Huguenots, and Presbyterians

Social structure based on family status and land ownership

Settled mainly by people seeking economic opportunity

The government was run by the planters and Cavaliers

Settled by Puritans seeking freedom from religious persecution in Europe.

Home to the Puritans

Home to many “Cavaliers” who received land grants from the King of England

Grew cash crops including tobacco, rice, and indigo

Economy based on large plantations

Incorporated democratic principles that reflected the rights of Englishmen

Extremely intolerant of those with different religions from their own

Developed a middle class with a more flexible social structure

Settled by many indentured servants who worked in exchange for passage to the New World

Economy based on shipbuilding, small-scale farming, and trading in the big cities

Home to the first permanent English settlement in North America

Maintained allegiance to the Church of England and had closer social ties to England