Social Studies Notes

1. 6.3 – Busy Farms and
Seaports

2. Rich Farmlands
• Middle colonies had fertile soil
• Gristmill – ground grain into flour
• Farmers had to choose whether to
grind their wheat into flour or sell the
wheat
• General Store sold goods that
couldn’t be made at home.

3. How a Gristmill Works

4. Port Cities
• Trade in the middle colonies brought
prosperity
• Prosperity – economic success
• Hudson River – main river into New York
• Delaware River – main river into
Philadelphia
• These rivers had access to the Atlantic
Ocean

5. Exports and Imports
• Exports:
• Furs, meat, lumber, grain
• Imports:
• Furniture, tea, gunpowder, medicine, metals, slaves
• ALL TRADE WAS WITH ENGLAND

6. Colonial Jobs
• Artisans – blacksmiths (metal), coopers
(barrels), carpenters (wood), bricklayers
(brick)
• Apprenticeship – an artisan would take
on an apprentice to teach them a trade
• Apprentice would live with the artisan
during their apprenticeship
• Women worked at home