Note: Your teacher will grade your responses to 13 and 14
to ensure you receive proper credit for your answers.
Describe the primary economic activity for each of the
three colonial regions: the New England Colonies, the
Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Explain how
the geography of each region helped determine its
economy in four to five sentences.
(6 points)
In the New England Colonies, the primary economic activity was shipbuilding, fishing, and trade. The region's geography, consisting of rocky soil and a lack of fertile land, made agriculture difficult and not as profitable. The abundance of forests and the proximity to the ocean, however, made shipbuilding and fishing more feasible. The region's numerous harbors and rivers also facilitated trade with other colonies and European countries.
In the Middle Colonies, the primary economic activity was farming and agriculture. The region's geography included fertile soil and a moderate climate, which allowed for the cultivation of a variety of crops such as wheat, barley, and oats. This abundance of agricultural resources led to the development of a thriving farming industry and the growth of urban centers for trade and commerce.
In the Southern Colonies, the primary economic activity was plantation agriculture, specifically the cultivation of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. The region's geography, with its warm climate, long growing season, and fertile soil, provided ideal conditions for large-scale agriculture. The availability of rivers and coastline also facilitated the transportation of goods and the establishment of a profitable export industry.