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Fourth Grade Colonial America Reading Comprehension Activity

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111 views4 pages

Fourth Grade Colonial America Reading Comprehension Activity

Uploaded by

Cesar Castillo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Colonial America

In England during the 1500s, many people lost their jobs. There was not enough food
to eat. These hard times made people want to move. North America seemed like a land
of opportunity. Many people from England dreamed of moving to America.

At that time there were no states in North America. There were thirteen colonies. They
had been settled by Europeans and separated into three regions. These regions were the
New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies.

New England Colonies


The New England Colonies included Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and
Rhode Island.

Over one hundred Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower to America. Among


these Pilgrims were forty Separatists who hoped to establish a new
church in the so-called New World. Upon landing in America, the
Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The weather in New England was freezing in the winter and mild in
the summer. This weather did not make the New England Colonies
a good place to farm. Instead of farming, colonists earned
money by fishing, whaling, and shipbuilding.

Middle Colonies
The Middle Colonies included Pennsylvania, New York,
New Jersey, and Delaware.

Unlike the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies had


excellent soil. The soil was perfect for growing wheat and other grains. The Middle
Colonies became known as the "Bread Basket Colonies" because of the successful farming
conditions.

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Colonial America

Southern Colonies
The Southern Colonies included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
and Georgia.

Unlike the New England and Middle Colonies, the climate allowed the Southern Colonies
to farm all year round. Tobacco, rice, cotton, and indigo were the main crops grown
in the South. Mild weather, good soil, and a long growing season created successful

plantations. Plantation owners bought slaves to keep up with the farming.

Although the Southern Colonies offered considerable religious freedom, most of the
inhabitants were Anglican or Baptist.

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Colonial America

Questions
1. People begin moving to North America for .
better weather
more opportunity
more farming
better fishing
2. Which is a New England colony?
Rhode Island
Georgia
Maryland
New Jersey
3. What was one of the crops of the Southern Colonies?

wheat
corn
cotton
oats
4. Colonists in the New England Colonies earned a living by .

farming
hunting
fishing
trading
5. Why did the New England Colonies not have success with farming? 




6. Give two reasons why plantations were prosperous in the Southern Colonies. 




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Colonial America

Answers
1. People begin moving to North America for .
better weather
more opportunity
more farming
better fishing
2. Which is a New England colony?
Rhode Island
Georgia
Maryland
New Jersey
3. What was one of the crops of the Southern Colonies?

wheat
corn
cotton
oats
4. Colonists in the New England Colonies earned a living by .

farming
hunting
fishing
trading
5. Why did the New England Colonies not have success with farming? 
New England Colonies did not have success with farming because the weather was
extreme - too cold and too hot for crops.

6. Give two reasons why plantations were prosperous in the Southern Colonies. 
Plantations were prosperous in the Southern Colonies because of mild weather and
good soil.

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