The+New+England+Colonies

The New England Colonies are a part of The Original 13 Colonies


 * **State** || **Capital** || **Year Founded** || **Founder** || **Who Claimed The Land** ||
 * Connecticut || Hartford || 1630s || Thomas Hooker || Adrian Block / Dutch ||
 * New Hampshire || Concord || 1629 || John Mason || Council for New England ||
 * Massachusetts || Boston || 1630 || John Winthrop || John Winthrop ||
 * Rhode Island || Providence || 1636 || Roger Williams || William Blackstone ||


 * Geography**

Land in New England was filled with rocks. It has lots of forests and mountains. The land was shaped by glaciers which scraped up the soil leaving a thin rocky soil. The ice and rocks made deep valleys in the mountains. There are lakes and swamps. Also in New England but farther inland there are the Appalachian mountains. These extend through Conecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and some colonies yet to be formed.


 * How People made a Living**:

Wood from forests were used to make buildings and ships. Fish and whales from the ocean were used for food as well as other products sush as clothing. The colnists living there also traded animal pelts with Indians and people back in England. Farming was also a major industry, even though the ground was not good for farming.

Compare, Contrast - All four colonies participated in trading or bartaring.


 * Colonial Life**

Women did not play a big role in public life or business. However, they did do a lot of house work. The men were the ones who held nearly every position. Life was hard for colonists in New England. Nearly every family member helped out with chores. Even though colonies had bad soil, they still farmed. The families grew corn, rye, peas, squash and pumpkins. They rose chickens, sheep, cows and pigs. The men hunted and farmed. The women made clothes, candles, soap, cornmeal, preserved vegetables and meat. They also cooked.


 * Government**

More free black people lived in New England than in any other colony group. They had the right to have their own land, and some even ran farms. Slavery was still legal in New England, but there was not much use of slaves. New England was very involved with church. They believed it had political control. When the new generations started to pop up, the colonists were not as involved in church, therefore it became less important. The articles that formed the government were written in 1643. Rhode Island was not admitted into this government. They took the name the United Colonies of New England.


 * How Culture Had An Impact On The Beginning of The Colony**

The government was highly based on religion and some of the New England colonies were formed because of religious conflicts. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams because he had been sent away due to the Puritan laws. He wanted to form a colony where everyone could live together and worship freely. Puritan laws were based on religion and if you didn't follow it you had strict consequences applied to you.