Welcome to EA Homeschool Academy! Today, we’re going to learn about the 13 colonies that were the beginning of what we now call the United States.
A long time ago, people from one country would move to a new place and start a colony. This meant that a powerful country would take control of another area, usually to make money, settle people, and use the land’s resources. For example, people from England moved to America and started colonies there before it became the United States. These colonies were under the control of England and had to follow its rules.
People left their homes to come to America for several reasons:
It’s important to remember that the land wasn’t empty when Europeans arrived. Native American peoples had lived there for generations, with their own languages, cultures, and ways of life.
The 13 original colonies were located along the eastern coast of what is now the United States, from Maine to Georgia. They were grouped into three regions based on their location, economy, and culture:
The New England colonies focused on shipping, fishing, and small farms. They had cold winters and many settlers were Puritans who valued community and education.
Known as the “Bread Basket,” these colonies grew lots of wheat and grains. They had a moderate climate and were home to a mix of different cultures and religions.
The Southern colonies had large plantations that grew crops like tobacco and rice, using enslaved labor. They had warm weather and long growing seasons.
One important reason settlers came to America was for political freedom. The Mayflower Compact was a big step in creating democratic government in America. Signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, it was an agreement to form a government and follow its rules for the good of the colony. This idea of self-governance was important for the future of the colonies and the United States.
The Mayflower Compact was an early example of democracy in the New World. It helped shape the 13 colonies and the democratic government that would later form the United States.
Thank you for joining me on this learning journey about the 13 original British colonies of the United States. If you have any questions or topics you’d like to see next, please let us know! Don’t forget to like and share our videos, and subscribe to our channel. Thank you for watching!
Create Your Own Colony: Imagine you are starting a new colony! What would you name it? What kind of rules would you have? Think about what your colony would need to survive and thrive. Draw a map of your colony, showing important places like farms, homes, and any special buildings. Share your map and ideas with your family or friends and explain why you chose those features.
Colonial Cooking: Research a simple recipe that might have been made in one of the 13 colonies. With the help of an adult, try making the recipe at home. As you cook, think about what ingredients were available to the colonists and how they might have cooked without modern appliances. Discuss with your family how cooking in colonial times was different from today.
Interview a “Colonist”: Pretend you are a reporter in the 1600s. Interview a family member or friend who will act as a colonist from one of the 13 colonies. Ask them questions about why they moved to the colony, what their daily life is like, and what challenges they face. Write down their answers and share your interview with your class or family.
Welcome to EA Homeschool Academy! Let’s learn about the 13 colonies.
What is a colony? A long time ago, people from one country would move to a new place and start a colony. This practice often involved a powerful country establishing control over another region, typically for economic benefits, settlement, and resource exploitation. For example, people from England moved to America and started colonies there before it became the United States. Colonies often involved settlers from the ruling country living in the colony, and they typically had limited self-government, being controlled directly by the ruling country.
The 13 original colonies of what is now the United States were all British colonies. These colonies were established by settlers from England and were under British rule until they declared their independence in 1776.
Why did people leave their homes to come and live in a new place? Settlers came to America for various reasons, including:
1. **Religious Freedom**: Many settlers sought the freedom to practice their religion without persecution. For example, the Pilgrims who founded a colony in 1620 and the Puritans who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony were seeking a place where they could worship freely.
2. **Economic Opportunities**: Some settlers came to America in search of land, wealth, and opportunities that were not available to them in Europe. The promise of fertile land and the chance to own property attracted many.
3. **Political Freedom**: Some settlers sought escape from political oppression and the chance to participate in self-governance. They wanted to establish societies with more democratic principles than those in Europe.
4. **Adventure and Exploration**: The spirit of adventure and the desire to explore new lands motivated some settlers. The unknown possibilities of the New World attracted explorers and adventurers.
It is important to note that the settlers who came to live in what is now known as the United States did not discover any new land. Long before the arrival of Europeans, there were generations of Native American peoples who lived and thrived in the region. These Native American peoples had their own languages, cultures, music, technology, and ways of life prior to the arrival of European settlers.
Let’s take a look at the 13 original colonies of the United States. They were located along the eastern coast, spanning from present-day Maine to Georgia. The colonies were often grouped into three distinct regions based on their geography, economy, and cultural characteristics:
1. **New England Colonies**:
– Massachusetts (including Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820)
– New Hampshire
– Rhode Island
– Connecticut
The New England colonies’ economy focused on shipping, fishing, lumber, and small-scale subsistence farming. They had a cooler climate with harsh winters, and their society consisted of many settlers who were Puritans seeking religious freedom, leading to a more homogeneous society with a strong emphasis on community and education.
2. **Middle Colonies**:
– New York
– New Jersey
– Pennsylvania
– Delaware
The Middle Colonies’ economy was known as the “Bread Basket” for their production of wheat and other grains. They also engaged in shipping and trade. The climate was more moderate with fertile soil suitable for agriculture, and their society was more diverse in terms of ethnicity, religion, and culture.
3. **Southern Colonies**:
– Maryland
– Virginia
– North Carolina
– South Carolina
– Georgia
The Southern Colonies’ economy was based on large-scale plantations growing cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo, relying heavily on enslaved laborers. They had a warmer climate with long growing seasons, and their society was more rural with a greater emphasis on plantation life and a hierarchical social structure.
One of the primary reasons why the settlers came to America was to seek political freedom. The Mayflower Compact is important for understanding the formation of the 13 colonies, as it was a significant early step in the development of democratic governance in America. Created by the Pilgrims who sailed to North America aboard the Mayflower in 1620, the Mayflower Compact was a social contract signed on November 11, 1620. It is considered the first governing document of Plymouth Colony and one of the earliest examples of self-government in what would later become the United States.
The Mayflower Compact established a basic form of democracy, with the signers agreeing to form a government and abide by its rules for the good of the colony. This concept became fundamental in the development of democratic societies. The principles of self-governance and majority rule established by the Mayflower Compact influenced the development of other colonial governments and later the democratic institutions of the United States.
In summary, the Mayflower Compact is important because it was an early and influential example of self-governance and democratic principles in the New World. It laid the groundwork for the future development of the 13 colonies and the democratic government structures that would later form the United States.
Thank you for joining me on this learning journey about the 13 original British colonies of the United States. If you have any questions or topics you’d like to see next, please let us know! Don’t forget to like and share our videos, and subscribe to our channel. Thank you for watching!
