📚 Topic Summary
The thirteen original colonies were British settlements along the Atlantic coast of North America, established from 1607 to 1733. These colonies eventually declared independence from Great Britain, leading to the formation of the United States of America. Understanding their locations and characteristics is crucial to grasping early American history.
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its correct definition:
- Colony
- Charter
- Puritan
- Plantation
- Indentured Servant
Definitions:
- A large farm, often specializing in cash crops like tobacco or cotton.
- A formal document granting rights and privileges.
- A person who agreed to work for a period of time in exchange for passage to America.
- A group of people who leave their native country to form in a new land a settlement subject to, or connected with, the parent nation.
- A member of a religious group who wanted to purify the Church of England.
(Match the numbers to the letters. For example, 1 goes with D.)
✏️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided below.
The thirteen colonies were divided into three regions: New England, Middle, and __________. New England colonies, such as Massachusetts, were known for their __________ and strong sense of community. The Middle colonies, including New York and Pennsylvania, were more __________ with diverse populations. The Southern colonies, like Virginia and Georgia, relied heavily on __________ and the plantation system.
Words: Southern, trade, agriculture, religious.
🌍 Part C: Critical Thinking
Imagine you are a colonist living in one of the thirteen colonies. Which colony would you choose to live in and why? Explain your choice.