- Founded for settlement rather than profit.
- Religious toleration was proclaimed but not always enforced.
- Colonists were allowed a representative assembly which elected governors.
- The economy was based on agriculture (primarily tobacco) and, later, slave labor.
Pennsylvania
- Founded as a "Holy Experiment" by William Penn.
- Quakers founded the colony and promoted peace, religious toleration, and pacifism.
- The colony had a representative assembly and a governor appointed by Penn.
- The economy was based on agriculture (primarily wheat and corn) and trade.
Delaware
- Originally part of Pennsylvania but became a separate colony in 1704.
- The colony had a representative assembly and a governor appointed by Penn.
- The economy was based on agriculture (primarily wheat and corn) and trade.
New York
- Originally founded by the Dutch as New Netherland.
- The colony was captured by the English in 1664 and renamed New York.
- The colony had a representative assembly and a governor appointed by the English king.
- The economy was based on trade, agriculture (primarily wheat and corn), and fur trapping.
New Jersey
- Originally part of New York.
- Became a separate colony in 1664.
- The colony had a representative assembly and a governor appointed by the English king.
- The economy was based on agriculture (primarily wheat and corn) and trade.
The Carolinas and Pennsylvania were significantly different from earlier American colonies:
- The earlier colonies had been established by adventurers and entrepreneurs who sought to make a profit. The Carolinas and Pennsylvania were established for settlement and religious freedom, respectively.
- The Carolinas and Pennsylvania were more tolerant of religious diversity than the earlier colonies.
- The Carolinas and Pennsylvania both had representative assemblies, while earlier colonies had been governed by appointed officials.