What Was the Government of the Middle Colonies

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Here’s the twist: the elected assemblies were the real bosses. They controlled the colony’s purse strings—meaning they decided when the governor got paid. So if a governor tried to act like a tyrant, the assembly would just cut his salary. Try doing that to your boss today. (Don’t actually try that.)

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In Pennsylvania, the assembly was unicameral—only one house, no fancy upper chamber like the British House of Lords. That was radical. Ordinary farmers and tradesmen could get elected. Quakers, who believed everyone was equal in God’s eyes, ran the show. They refused to fund military forts because they were pacifists. Imagine a state government today saying, “Nah, no army budget.” The British were not amused.

“The Best Poor Man’s Country”

Because of this loose, hands-off government, the Middle Colonies became a magnet for immigrants. Germans, Scots-Irish, Dutch, Swedes—everyone showed up. And the government basically said, “Cool, just pay your taxes and don’t kill anyone.” Religious freedom? Write your own ticket. In Pennsylvania, you didn’t even need to be a Christian to vote—an insane idea in the 1700s.

This mix created a government that was pragmatic, not ideological. They focused on trade laws, land disputes, and keeping peace between different ethnic groups. It was less “purifying the soul” and more “let’s make sure the wheat gets to the port on time.” Boring? Maybe. But boring often means functional.

Colonial Regions Environment Culture and Government But first