Describe the characteristics of the English colonies in the Chesapeake region, the Carolinas, the middle colonies (Pennsylvania, New York, New...

The economy of the Chesapeake, particularly Virginia, was based on agriculture, including the cultivation of tobacco and cotton, and the colony began importing slaves in 1619. A pyramidal social hierarchy developed in which white planters were at the top and white indentured servants and slaves were at the bottom. After Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, the white planters decided to increasingly rely on slavery rather than indentured servitude, given the restive class of white indentured servants...

The economy of the Chesapeake, particularly Virginia, was based on agriculture, including the cultivation of tobacco and cotton, and the colony began importing slaves in 1619. A pyramidal social hierarchy developed in which white planters were at the top and white indentured servants and slaves were at the bottom. After Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, the white planters decided to increasingly rely on slavery rather than indentured servitude, given the restive class of white indentured servants who resented the rich elite. The system of slavery became increasingly harsh over time. The Carolinas were founded by settlers from Barbados and were involved in raising indigo, rice, cotton, and other crops. They brought with them a harsh form of slavery. Both the Chesapeake and the Carolinas were largely Anglican in religion.

The middle Colonies, particularly Pennsylvania (which was founded as a Quaker colony), and New York (founded originally by the Dutch, who permitted Jews and other religious minorities to enter), practiced religious tolerance. Their agriculture was based on cultivating crops such as wheat and other grains, and they had far fewer slaves than the deep south. 

The New England colonies were originally founded as theocracies and places for the Puritans, who faced persecution in England, to practice their religion freely. They were, however, largely intolerant of other religions, save in Rhode Island, a colony based on religious tolerance. The settlers arrived as families and lived in planned communities ruled by the church and the family. As the soil was rocky, New England had far fewer slaves than in the north and ran small industries, built ships, and ran small farms. The New England colonies emphasized the importance of literacy (to read the Bible) and had early forms of primary public schools. They also had some of the first colleges, including Harvard, founded in 1636.