The Thirteen English Colonies
Aligned to C3.D2.His.4 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
England started thirteen colonies along the eastern coast of North America. They are usually grouped as the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. Each group had different land, weather, and kinds of work.
Worked example
In the Southern colonies, warm weather and rich soil let planters grow large crops of tobacco and rice on big farms called plantations. In rocky New England, families were more likely to fish, trade, and run small farms.
Practice questions
- Name the three groups of English colonies.
- Explain how geography made work in the Southern colonies different from work in New England.
- Analyze why a family choosing where to settle might pick one colonial region over another.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Las Trece Colonias inglesas
Inglaterra fundó trece colonias a lo largo de la costa este de América del Norte. Suelen agruparse como las colonias de Nueva Inglaterra, las colonias Centrales y las colonias del Sur. Cada grupo tenía tierras, clima y tipos de trabajo diferentes.
Ejemplo: En las colonias del Sur, el clima cálido y el suelo fértil permitían a los hacendados cultivar grandes cosechas de tabaco y arroz en fincas enormes llamadas plantaciones. En la rocosa Nueva Inglaterra, las familias solían pescar, comerciar y tener granjas pequeñas.
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