Middle Colonies

Before the American Revolution, the middle colonies refer to the Province of New Jersey and the Province of Pennsylvania which were part of the British colonies in North America that had trade relations with Britain, Europe and the West Indies. After the American Revolution, the middle colonies became independent states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. The middle colonies were also referred to as Breadbasket Colonies as they produced wheat and other grains in abundance. Besides, lumbering and shipbuilding were other activities provided good profit for the colonists. William Penn was granted the governorship of the Pennsylvania colony by King Charles II, in return for a debt the Crown. Owed his family In Pennsylvania, the textile and pig iron industries were profitable to the colonists. In the 18th century, as a result of unrest in different parts of Europe and in other colonies, people migrated to these colonies in large numbers due to the religious tolerance. This resulted in cultural, religious and ethnic diversities. The middle colonies were discovered by Henry Hudson who crossed the Hudson River and Delaware Bay in 1609.It was initially claimed by the Dutch and later the English captured it in 1660 and renamed it as New York in honor of Duke of York, James II. These were granted to various proprietors as the Province of New York and the Province of Pennsylvania. Later, the Province of East and West New Jersey was formed from New York and the province of Delaware was formed from Pennsylvania. New York was formed when King Charles II sent Colonel Richard Nicolls to the Dutch colony of New Netherlands as it was a hindrance to the trade of the New England Colonies. He convinced the citizens about the take over of the colony by English and about the benefits they would receive by this change in power. It was renamed New York .Further, the land west of the Hudson River was renamed New Jersey and given as a proprietary colony to Duke of York James II of England, the brother of Charles II.