New England: Commerce & Religion Chapter 4 - Section 1

Distinct Colonial Regions Develop New England – long, cold winters & rocky soil – mostly English settlers Middle Colonies – shorter winters & fertile soil – immigrants Southern Colonies – warmer climate & good soil – slave labor Backcountry – Scot – Irish immigrants, area along Appalachian Mountains

Farms & Towns of New England Short growing season – rocky soil Subsistence farming – produce just enough for the family to live on Land sold to the church/congregation Land was divided among church members Towns were small – usually built around a green/common

Harvesting The Sea Poor soil conditions = difficult farming Economic opportunity – Atlantic Ocean & forest Resources: Fish - whales - trees Key coastal cities = Boston – Salem – New Haven – Newport

The Sea & Forest 6 million lbs. of fish a year Ship building – cost ½ that of England –2,500 trees to build a ship Boston – 15 ship yards –Build more ships than all of England Employs a lot of people –Saw mill – sail & rope makers – black smith - barrel maker – taverns Tree Mast Law – 1691 –Best trees reserved for British Navy

Atlantic Trade Triangle trade

Middle Passage Leg between African and West Indies/colonies Slave traders could make 200 % profit 1808 Congress bans slave trade

Navigation Acts Make sure England made money off trade 1. all shipping had to be done on English ships 2. the colonies had to sell certain products to England [tobacco – wood - sugar] 3. all imports to the colonies had to go through England = tax 4. tax any colonial products not sold to England

Purpose of Navigation Acts Dutch competition in shipping –charge 30% less 1660s – 1670s naval wars w/ Dutch 1664 Charles II – eliminated Dutch in North America W/ Navigation Acts England hope to: –Increase custom revenue –Stimulate ship building & related jobs –Supports economic theory of mercantilism

African Americans is New England Few slaves in New England b/c short growing season – not enough work to justify buying a slave Slaves worked as house servants – cooks – stable hands – on docks - warehouses

Changes in Puritan Society Gradual decline in Puritan religion Drive for economic success – materialism Competition from other religious groups Mass. became royal colony – religious freedom to everyone Own property = voting rights Weakened the Puritan community

Slave Trade Begun by Portuguese & Spanish African tribes would capture rival tribes –Sell their captives into slavery –Seize men/women from the interior & bring them to the coast where they were sold