New England Colonies
Location
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Reasons for Founding
Pilgrims and Puritans came to North America from England. They were seeking religious freedom. Pilgrims, who originally founded the Massachusetts Bay colony, wanted to separate from the Church of England. Puritans, who originally settled the Plymouth colony, did not want to separate from the Church of England, they wanted to purify it and make it their own. Other New England colonies were founded by dissenters of Puritans. These are groups of people who broke away from the Puritans.
Geography and Resources
Thick forests provided wood for building ships and houses. The ocean provided fish and whales.
There was thin rocky soil, rugged mountains, and long cold winters. These winters resulted in a short growing season for farming.
Industries and Occupation
Most New Englanders were farmers – but farms only provided food for their family. There were three main industries that allowed settlers to provide for their family. These industries included:
Ship Building
Fishing and Whaling– cod was exported and whale oil was fuel
Fur Trading
Government
Massachusetts
Everyone could attend town meetings. Only men who owned property and belonged to the church could vote.
Rhode Island
People could worship freely. The government and church were separate.
Religion
Religion was central to Puritan way of life. Those against Puritans left Massachusetts. Rhode Island’s separation of church and government became part of United States Constitution.
People
Pilgrims and Puritans were the two main groups Some colonists traded slaves, but few New England colonists owned slaves. Puritans and Native Americans fought over land.
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Reasons for Founding
Pilgrims and Puritans came to North America from England. They were seeking religious freedom. Pilgrims, who originally founded the Massachusetts Bay colony, wanted to separate from the Church of England. Puritans, who originally settled the Plymouth colony, did not want to separate from the Church of England, they wanted to purify it and make it their own. Other New England colonies were founded by dissenters of Puritans. These are groups of people who broke away from the Puritans.
Geography and Resources
Thick forests provided wood for building ships and houses. The ocean provided fish and whales.
There was thin rocky soil, rugged mountains, and long cold winters. These winters resulted in a short growing season for farming.
Industries and Occupation
Most New Englanders were farmers – but farms only provided food for their family. There were three main industries that allowed settlers to provide for their family. These industries included:
Ship Building
Fishing and Whaling– cod was exported and whale oil was fuel
Fur Trading
Government
Massachusetts
Everyone could attend town meetings. Only men who owned property and belonged to the church could vote.
Rhode Island
People could worship freely. The government and church were separate.
Religion
Religion was central to Puritan way of life. Those against Puritans left Massachusetts. Rhode Island’s separation of church and government became part of United States Constitution.
People
Pilgrims and Puritans were the two main groups Some colonists traded slaves, but few New England colonists owned slaves. Puritans and Native Americans fought over land.
|