USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Religious tolerance, ethnic diversity, and fertile lands helped the Middle Colonies prosper. Attitudes in parts of the Middle Colonies may have been influenced by the earliest Dutch settlers. These settlers came from the Dutch Republic, a country famous for its religious tolerance.

Detailed explanation-2: -These colonies attracted people from all over, including the Dutch, Swedes, Finns, and Scots because of their generous land grants and religious tolerance. Pennsylvania, another colony, was later founded by William Penn as a safe home for Quakers in 1681.

Detailed explanation-3: -Only in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania was toleration rooted in principle rather than expedience. Indeed, Pennsylvania’s first constitution stated that all who believed in God and agreed to live peacefully under the civil government would “in no way be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion of practice.”

Detailed explanation-4: -The Middle colonies, like Delaware, New York, and New Jersey, were founded as trade centers, while Pennsylvania was founded as a safe haven for Quakers. The Middle colonies were also called the “Breadbasket colonies” because of their fertile soil, ideal for farming.