The New England colonies had very harsh winters and mild summers . This made the growing season only about five months long. Because the soil was rocky and the climate was often harsh, colonists in New England only farmed enough to feed their families. Some of these crops included corn, beans, and squash.
Their social lives revolved around village events and attending church . The Sabbath or Sunday was a high point of the week. Work was not allowed and it provided an opportunity to visit one another. Many of the New England colonies were founded by religious reformers and separatists searching for religious freedom.
What problems did the New England colonies face?
Some of the problems were unintentionally introduced by the colonists, like smallpox and other diseases that the English settlers had unwittingly brought over on their ships. Although the colonists suffered diseases of their own early on, they were largely immune to the microbes they brought over to the New World.
What were the characteristics of colonial life in New England?
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.
What was life like in the Middle colonies?
The Middle colonies had rich farmland and a moderate climate which made farming much easier than it was in New England. Many people made their living raising livestock or growing grain.
How were government decisions made in most New England colonies?
Each government was given power by a charter. The English monarch had ultimate authority over all of the colonies. A group of royal advisers called the Privy Council set English colonial policies. Each colony had a governor who served as head of the government.
What did the New England colonies do for fun?
Throwing balls , a ring-toss game and foot races that could cover many miles were among the common pursuits. Slide Groat. Slide groat was another of the colonial New England games that people had to play on the sly. This was a miniature shuffleboard type of game, also called shovelboard.
What are 3 reasons for colonization?
Historians generally recognize three motives for European exploration and colonization in the New World: God, gold, and glory .
What were some of the drawbacks of life in the early New England colonies?
- Swampy land.
- Mosquitoes with diseases.
- War with Native Americans due to the colonists being greedy for the land.
- Didn't know how to use the land until the Native Americans taught them. Starved before then and had to eat horses and dogs.
What are some fun facts about the New England colonies?
Massachusetts Bay became the most influential colony in New England. Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire can trace their beginnings back to it. New England's main source of commerce was its fish and timber . Whales were common up the coast and became a valuable resource for the colonies.
What did all New England colonies have in common?
The New England colonies had rocky soil, which was not suited to plantation farming, so the New England colonies depended on fishing, lumbering, and subsistence farming . The Middle colonies also featured mixed economies, including farming and merchant shipping.
What did the colonies have in common?
The colonies were alike in that they all had close ties to England. They were mainly inhabited by English-speaking people. Aside from some of Maryland, they were largely Protestant. They had their own forms of self-government , but they owed their allegiance to Parliament and the King.
What was one difference between the middle colonies and New England?
the major difference between new england and middle colonies was the quality of land . the middle colonies had rich farmland and a moderate climate, which made farming easier than it was in New England. Many people made their livings raising live stock or growing grain.
What did the middle colony do for fun?
In winter, in the Middle Colonies, kids had fun skating . In all the colonies, kids played with balls and bats and marbles and dolls. They played tag. In the south they played lawn bowling.
Did the Middle Colonies have religious freedom?
Farm land was both productive and much less expensive than in Europe. Later settlers included members of various Protestant denominations , which were protected in the Middle Colonies by written freedom of religion laws. This tolerance was very unusual and distinct from the situation in other British colonies.
What were the Middle Colonies best known for?
The Middle colonies are often called the breadbasket colonies because they grew so many crops, especially wheat . ... The Middle Colonies were also able to manufacture iron ore products such as plows, tools, kettles, nails and large blocks of iron which they exported to England.
