13 Colonies Regions - New England Colonies (2024)

Colonies

• New Hampshire
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut

Climate and Geography

Colonists in the New England colonies endured bitterly cold winters and mild summers. Land was flat close to the coastline but became hilly and mountainous farther inland. Soil was generally rocky, making farming difficult. Cold winters reduced the spread of disease.

Religion

The New England colonies were dominated by the Puritans, reformers seeking to "purify" Christianity, who came over from England to practice religion without persecution. Puritans followed strict rules and were intolerant of other religions, eventually absorbing the separatist Pilgrims in Massachusetts by 1629. Life in New England was dominated by church, and there were severe consequences for those who failed to attend, or, those who spoke out against the Puritan ways. Singing and celebrating holidays were among things prohibited in Puritan New England.

Economy

New England's economy was largely dependent on the ocean. Fishing (especially codfish) was most important to the New England economy, though whaling, trapping, shipbuilding, and logging were important also. Eventually, many New England shippers grew wealthy buying slaves from West Africa in return for rum, and selling the slaves to the West Indies in return for molasses. This process was called the "triangular trade."

13 Colonies Regions

• New England Colonies
• Middle (Mid-Atlantic) Colonies
• Southern Colonies

13 Colonies Regions Articles

• 13 Colonies Printable Blank Map
• Life in Puritan Massachusetts
• Who were the Quakers?
• Tobacco in the Southern Colonies
• History of Cotton in America
• Indigo in the South Carolina Colony
• Highlights of a Colonial Town: Williamsburg

13 Colonies Regions Online Activities

• New England Colonies Correct-me Passage
• Middle Colonies Correct-me Passage
• Southern Colonies Correct-me Passage
• 13 Colonies Regions Categorization (by colony)
• 13 Colonies Regions Categorization (by fact)

13 Colonies Regions Reading Comprehension (Online and Printable)

• Life in Puritan Massachusetts Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Printable)
• Life in Puritan Massachusetts Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Interactive with Immediate Feedback and Score Report)
• Who were the Quakers? Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Printable)
• Who were the Quakers? Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Interactive with Immediate Feedback and Score Report)
• Tobacco in the Southern Colonies Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Printable)
• Tobacco in the Southern Colonies Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Interactive with Immediate Feedback and Score Report)
• History of Cotton Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Printable)
• History of Cotton Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (Interactive with Immediate Feedback and Score Report)
• Religion in the 13 Colonies Compare and Contrast Reading Comprehension and Critical Thought Questions (Printable)