Trade in the Middle Colonies grew quickly. Port cities like New York and Philadelphia had large populations.
Merchants and sailors came and went, bringing foods and goods from all over the world. The people in these towns came from many countries and had many different beliefs. This diversity, or variety, helped make colonists in these areas more accepting of unfamiliar people and new ideas. Some rights that Americans have today were first introduced in these colonies. Trial by jury was one of them. What is the right to a trial by jury? It means that anyone accused of a crime has the right to present a defense and be judged by a group of fellow citizens.
