Final answer:
The middle colonies were more diverse ethnically and religiously than New England and Southern colonies, experienced significant population and economic growth, and had a different, less harsh system of slavery. They were also founded on principles of religious freedom and tolerance, as demonstrated by Pennsylvania's Quaker population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences Between People in the Middle Colonies and Those in New England and Southern Colonies
The middle colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware exhibited significant ethnic and religious diversity, unlike their counterparts in New England and the South during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
This diversity was a result of various factors such as the settlement patterns under Dutch rule, immigration, and rapid economic development. The middle colonies experienced high levels of population and economic growth, and were characterized by a pragmatic, accommodative, and tolerant approach among the colonists due to the diversity.
Furthermore, the institution of slavery in the middle colonies, while still involving loss of freedom and degradation for those enslaved, was generally not as harsh as that in the southern colonies or the Caribbean Islands.
Slave ownership was more widespread, even among small farmers and artisans, and slaves often worked and lived in close proximity to their masters. This could sometimes lead to a greater understanding but also to higher levels of hostility, including violence against masters and property.
The middle colonies, especially Pennsylvania, were founded on principles of religious freedom and tolerance. For example, Pennsylvania became a haven for Quakers, who had peaceful relations with native populations and were known to purchase the land from them, contrasting with the more common practice of conquest and dispossession seen elsewhere.