Geography
New York was a Middle Colony founded in 1626. Like the other middle colonies, New York had fertile soil brought by Northern glaciers. It also had a longer growing season with ample sunshine and rain. These conditions were ideal for farming. Additionally, the Hudson river and proximity to sea enabled transportation. The access to wildlife enabled hunting and trapping.
Political Features
In 1685 James II made New York a royal colony. New York flourished under English rule. The trade with Iroquois was profitable. New York, unlike the rest of the middle colonies, was not less aristocratic than the New England and Southern colonies. All landholders were allowed to vote. It was an important step to eventual democracy in New York. However, most land was owned by few landowners or speculators. Property holding and political power remained highly divided and highly unequal in New York. In addition to confirming the great Dutch “patroonships” in existence, James granted large estates to some of his political supporters. Power in the colony thus remained widely dispersed among the wealthy English landlords, Dutch patroons, wealthy fur traders, and the duke’s political appointees. By 1685, when the Duke of York ascended the English throne as James II, New York contained about 30,000 people.
Economic Features
There was a mixed economy based on industry and agriculture. There were fewer industries than New England, but more than the South. The industry focused on Shipbuilding, lumbering, shipping and commerce. Philadelphia and New York became trade centers. The agriculture included an export of grain. The middle colonies were also known as the "Bread colonies." They had wheat, oats, barley, and rye. Fruits and vegetables were also due to the export of grain. The middle colonies typically had medium sized farms.
Social and Religious Features
The middle colonies had a greater ethnic and religious mix. Because of this the group of middle colonies was called the “Melting Pot.” They got settlers from Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, and Scotland. The middle colonies were culturally and religiously tolerant as a necessity. New York contained not only Dutch and English, but also Scandinavians, Germans, French and a large number of Africans who were imported as slaves by the Dutch East India Company. Among them were also members of several different Indian tribes. The ethnic diversity that existed in the region was further diversified by James who wisely made no effort to impose his own Catholicism on the colony. He delegated powers to a governor and made no provisions for representative assemblies. New York offered religious freedom to Christians. Also New York had feudalistic traits more than other colonies.