Massachusetts-
The colony of Massachusetts was founded by John Winthrop, Thomas Dudley, and other non-separatist Puritans in 1630, and was a Charter colony. The reason for Massachusetts' founding was because the Puritans wanted a colony where they could be free to practice their own religion. That meant all of the settlers had to follow the way that the Puritans lived, and they strongly believed that the Anglican Church should be cleared of any Catholic influences. The economy was based upon ship building and the manufacture and export of rum.
The founding document of Massachusetts was the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, which was written in 1629. In this document, Massachusetts, a joint-stock company, received a charter from the Crown. The Crown is the blood line of the English king and queen. In addition, the government of the company and its extent was clarified. There is also an unclear statement that said that the management of the colony would remain in England. This required the official charter to stay in England as well. The colony of Massachusetts was a home and birthplace to many important historical figures, such as President John Adams, Presidents John Quincy Adams, statesman Benjamin Franklin, and poet Edgar Allen Poe. The most common settler found in Massachusetts were white Puritan men who were looking for religious freedom, and wished to express their religion in their own way. |
Sources-
Map: kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-179295/The-Plymouth-and-Massachusetts-Bay-colonies Information: americanhistory.about.com/cs/colonialamerica/p/masscolony.htm www.50states.com/bio/mass.htm#.VCTHTvldWSo education-portal.com/academy/lesson/massachusetts-bay-colony-religion-history-economy.html#lesson www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1600-1650/charter-of-massachusetts-bay-1629.php |
New Hampshire-
The colony of New Hampshire was founded by John Mason and John Wheelright in 1638, and was a Charter colony. The reason for New Hampshire's founding was because John Mason was given a grant to assemble a fishing colony. That meant the settlers of New Hampshire had to know how to find and catch fish. They also had to know the proper way to cook and sell fish. However, they had difficulty finding fish due to the harsh winter months. The economy was based upon ship building and the manufacture and export of rum.
The founding document of New Hampshire was the Constitution of New Hampshire, which was written on January 5, 1776. In this document, the anointed congressmen were authorized and empowered to pursue measures that promoted the benefit and protection of the people of New Hampshire. In addition, no act would have been valid or carried out until it was agreed to, or passed by both branches of the legislature. New Hampshire housed important historians in the past, such as Franklin Pierce. New Hampshire is the birthplace and home to famous men and women, including actress Mandy Moore, Olympian Bode Miller, politician William P. Fessenden, and author Dan Brown. The common settlers were Puritans that had grown tired of trying to reform the church in England, and feared that they would be punished by their God for changing so much to the church. |
Sources-
Map:
Information: americanhistory.about.com/cs/colonialamerica/p/hampshirecolony.htm www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/nhfamous.htm |
Connecticut-
The colony of Connecticut was founded by Thomas Hooker in 1638, and was a Charter colony. Connecticut was founded when colonists from Massachusetts explored the valley near the Plymouth colony. That meant the settlers of Connecticut lived in the same basic lifestyle of Massachusetts. The economy of Connecticut was based upon ship building and the manufacture and export of rum.
The founding document of Connecticut was the Fundamental Order of Connecticut. It was written in 1639, and was the first official constitution in the thirteen colonies. In this document, elected members of the general court were required to meet every April and September. Also, no man could serve as the governor more than once every two years. Connecticut was the birthplace of many important historical figures in the past and present, such as President George W. Bush, journalist Dominick Dunne, and industrialist Moses Austin. The type of settler that you would have seen most often in Connecticut was Puritan men and women who had moved or drifted westward from Massachusetts. |
Sources-
Map: www.angelfire.com/planet/kenyon/map_historical_detail.html Information: www.landofthebrave.info/connecticut-colony.htm www.usahistory.info/New-England/Connecticut.html connecticuthistory.org/the-fundamental-orders-of-connecticut/ www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/ctfamous.htm |
Rhode Island-
The colony of Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams and other colonists, like Anne Hutchinson, in 1636 and was a Charter colony. Rhode Island was founded due to the lack of religious tolerance in Massachusetts at the time. As a result, Rhode Island became the most religiously tolerant colony in North America in the early to mid-1600's. Even though Rhode Island is religiously tolerant, the majority of the colonists expressed the Catholic faith.
Most of Rhode Island's settlers were men and women who didn't want the strict rules of the Puritans, but still wished to express their own religion in their own way. Rhode Island was and is still a home and birthplace to many important figures in America, like inventor Stephen Wilcox, Captain Robert Gray, and poet Galway Kinnell. |
Sources-
Map: www.history-map.com/picture/004/Island-Colony-Rhode-Map.htm Information: www.usahistory.info/New-England/Rhode-Island.html www.landofthebrave.info/rhode-island-colony.htm www.50states.com/bio/rdisl.htm#.VCYL11ko7IU |
All New England Colonies-
Economy:
Climate/Geography:
- Subsistence Farming
- Ship Building
- Whaling
- Fur Trade
- Lumber
- Iron Works
Climate/Geography:
- Harsh Winters
- Most Villages Near Harbor
- Short Growing Period
Climate Effect on the Colonies-
The short growing periods in the New England Colonies meant that their was a limited food supply year round. In addition, harsh winters made colonists more vulnerable to illnesses, and sometimes caused them to die in the freezing temperatures. However, since most settlements were near harbors, ships could come in and bring supplies to the colonies quicker than if the settlements were further inland.