How Did The Economy Affect The Development Of The New England Colonies

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As England's population continued to grow in the 17th century, immigrants traveled to the Americas, securing their ownership to several West Indies islands. After claiming land, the colonies continued to develop between 1607 and 1754. The English headed north and the New England colonies were developed in 1608 including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. While the settlers focused on recreating their society with their own religious beliefs, another goal was to seek economic opportunity, and sometimes the development varied with the of southern colonies.

Looking for religious freedom, a group known as the Puritans left England. The first Puritan separatists who arrived in the New England colonies fled to Holland in 1608 in order escape the religious abuse in England. Believing in a pure Christian church with no trace of Catholic worship, Puritans developed a strict religion. “Church attendance was mandatory”, and for those keeping from the God’s work they felt they were …show more content…

As the English settled in Jamestown for money, they later had the desire to make money of the economic characteristics. Subsistence farming, shipbuilding, and lots of trade with the West Indies took place. These economic activities were determined by the environment. Heading North, the landscape and climate impacted the economic activities of this colony and it became hard for the Puritans to farm and grow crops. Due to poor soil, wheat was difficult to farm so corn, pumpkins, rye, squash and beans were all planted instead (Landofthebrave, New England colonies). Settlers in the New England colonies were involved with buying and selling goods allowing ship holders to flourish (ThoughtCo, Characteristics of New England Colonies). Along the coast of the New England colonies, Puritans mainly focused on town life industries such as fishing and