<P> Unlike New England, the Mid-Atlantic region gained much of its population from new immigration and, by 1750, the combined populations of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania had reached nearly 300,000 people . By 1750, about 60,000 Irish and 50,000 Germans came to live in British North America, many of them settling in the Mid-Atlantic Region . William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1682, and attracted an influx of British Quakers with his policies of religious liberty and freehold ownership . ("Freehold" meant owning land free and clear, with the right to resell it to anyone .) The first major influx of settlers were the Scotch Irish who headed to the frontier . Many Germans came to escape the religious conflicts and declining economic opportunities in Germany and Switzerland . </P> <P> Thousands of poor German farmers, chiefly from the Palatine region of Germany, migrated to upstate districts after 1700 . They kept to themselves, married their own, spoke German, attended Lutheran churches, and retained their own customs and foods . They emphasized farm ownership . Some mastered English to become conversant with local legal and business opportunities . They ignored the Indians and tolerated slavery (although few were rich enough to own a slave). </P> <P> Much of the architecture of the Middle Colonies reflects the diversity of its people . In Albany and New York City, a majority of the buildings were Dutch style with brick exteriors and high gables at each end, while many Dutch churches were octagonal . German and Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania used cut stone to build their houses, following the way of their homeland and completely ignoring the plethora of timber in the area . An example of this would be Germantown, Pennsylvania where 80 percent of the buildings in the town were made entirely of stone . On the other hand, settlers from Ireland took advantage of America's ample supply of timber and constructed sturdy log cabins . </P> <P> Ethnic cultures also affected styles of furniture . Rural Quakers preferred simple designs in furnishings such as tables, chairs, and chests, and shunned elaborate decorations . However, some urban Quakers had much more elaborate furniture . The city of Philadelphia became a major center of furniture - making because of its massive wealth from Quaker and British merchants . Philadelphian cabinet makers built elegant desks and highboys . German artisans created intricate carved designs on their chests and other furniture, with painted scenes of flowers and birds . German potters also crafted a large array of jugs, pots, and plates of both elegant and traditional design . </P>

Where did settlers in the middle colonies come from
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