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New England Colonies

The people who settled in the New England Colonies wanted to keep their family unit together and practice their own religion. They were used to doing many things themselves and not depending on other people. Some of these immigrants came to New England to make money, but they were not the majority. There were small farms which were mostly self-sufficient. The land was very rocky and the growing climate was very short. It was very cold in the winter.
Most of the settlers were English. The Pilgrims and Puritans came to this area. There were many indentured servants in these colonies. Fishing in the ocean and in the larger rivers was important to the economy and the excess was exported back to the Mother Country.
Lumbering and ship building made use of the forests of New England.
The most famous trade route was known as the triangular trade routes. Ships with rum were sent to Africa to trade for slaves. Slaves were taken to the West Indies and traded for sugar, molasses, and money. This was known as the Middle Passage. Then the molasses is taken to the U.S. to be made into rum.
The religion of New England was primarily Puritan although there was religious freedom in Rhode Island.
The New England colonist went there to establish a model religious community so they enforced religious conformity and the meetinghouse was the center of activity in their colonies.
The English had the tradition of legislative representation in Parliament so they allowed their colonists to establish colonial assemblies and govern themselves with minimal interference from England.

Be sure to watch United Streaming video:
Making the Thirteen Colonies: New England Colonies

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