The Thirteen Colonies
Aligned to C3.D2.His.1 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
England's thirteen mainland colonies formed three regions with different economies. New England relied on shipbuilding, fishing, and small farms; the Middle Colonies grew grain and welcomed diverse settlers; the Southern Colonies grew cash crops like tobacco and rice on plantations worked by enslaved Africans.
Worked example
In 1620 the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact at Plymouth, agreeing to govern themselves by majority rule. Meanwhile Virginia's House of Burgesses, founded in 1619, became the first elected lawmaking body in the colonies.
Practice questions
- Name the three colonial regions.
- Explain why the Southern Colonies depended on plantation agriculture and enslaved labor.
- Compare how New England and the Southern Colonies each shaped their government and economy differently.
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
Las trece colonias continentales de Inglaterra formaron tres regiones con economías distintas. Nueva Inglaterra dependía de la construcción naval, la pesca y las granjas pequeñas; las Colonias Centrales cultivaban granos y recibían colonos diversos; las Colonias del Sur cultivaban productos comerciales como el tabaco y el arroz en plantaciones trabajadas por africanos esclavizados.
Ejemplo: En 1620 los Peregrinos firmaron el Pacto del Mayflower en Plymouth, comprometiéndose a gobernarse por regla de la mayoría. Mientras tanto, la Cámara de los Burgueses de Virginia, fundada en 1619, se convirtió en el primer cuerpo legislativo electo de las colonias.
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