what are the middle colonies

The Middle Colonies were a subset of the Thirteen Colonies in British America, located between the New England Colonies and the Southern Colonies. They included Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. The Middle Colonies were the most ethnically and religiously diverse British colonies in North America with settlers from England, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and German states. The land was generally fertile and productive, and farm land was much less expensive than in Europe. The Middle Colonies were generally run by Royal or Proprietary Governors and elected Colonial Assemblies. Many Middle Colony constitutions guaranteed freedom of religion and forbade taxation without representation. The Middle Colonies were important distribution centers in the English mercantile system, and New York and Philadelphia grew at a fantastic rate. The Middle Colonies were more socially tolerant than other British colonial regions in North America and tended to be more diverse and socially tolerant. For example, in New York, any foreigner professing Christianity was awarded citizenship, leading to a more diverse populace.