13 Original Colonies The New England Colonies

Each section of the country was as different as the other. New England with her self sufficient farming communities, seafaring ports, shipbuilding, and rum making New England Economy

Farming was primarily limited to raising crops and animals for their own use –Harsh winter conditions and rocky soil prevented growing of large cash crops –Not a large demand for Farm Labor because of these conditions Slave labor would have cost more to maintain then what they could gain in labor

Merchants –Traded goods locally with other colonies and overseas because of the vast shipping trade Traded furs, pickled beef, and pork Grew in power and wealth Became the leading members within their Colonies

Fishing –Was one of the regions leading industries Cod, Mackerel, and Halibut –Merchants exported dried fish –Hunted whales that came to close to shore Eventually hunted them for their oil for lamps

Shipbuilding –Huge abundance of trees made shipbuilding possible –As slave trade grew so did the need for more ships –Fishing trade also aided in the need for vessels –New England shipyards made high quality vessels England even ordered ships from New England –Captains were encouraged to sell the ships along with the cargo

Skilled Craftsmen –Followed a long tradition establish in England –Young boys in their teens were often sent off to businessmen called Master –Masters job was to prepare you for the skills necessary for the trade Started out as an apprentice Moved on to a journeyman after a few years After a few more years as a journeyman you became a master and set up your own shop

Education –Parents wanted their children to be able to read and write –Passed some of the first laws for compulsory education Any town of 50 or more families were required to have a school –Used the New England Primer to learn to read Was based on the Bible –Harvard was the first college in the New World

Here are some examples of alphabet rhymes that teach moral values as well as reading. –A In Adam's Fall We sinned all. –B Thy Life to Mend This Book Attend. –C The Cat doth play And after slay. –D A Dog will bite A Thief at night. –E An Eagle's flight Is Out of sight. –F The Idle Fool Is Whipt at School.

Religion and Government The Charter for the Mass Bay Company provided for a democratic form of Government –Consisted of a General Court (Legislature) and a Governor General Court was a bi Cameral legislature Leaders were generally church leaders Each Town was allowed to send 2-3 delegates to the court Male church members were the only ones allowed to vote Conn and RI eventually allowed non church members males to vote

Local Government –In the towns most matters were handled by the Town Meetings Men would gather whenever they needed The announcement of the meeting was sent round the town and you showed up Usually was held in the church which doubled as a meeting house

Crime and Punishment Crime is not necessarily what you think of today in Colonial America –Church often decided and dealt with problems within the society –The local laws were often heavy on the religious aspect of life –There was no appeals and justice was swift –In many place just missing church was a crime

If you were convicted of the crime of witchcraft the punishment was extreme If you were convicted of the crime of witchcraft the punishment was extreme You were tied to a stake and then dunked upside down into a pool of water. You were tied to a stake and then dunked upside down into a pool of water. If you lived it proved you were a witch If you lived it proved you were a witch If you drowned you were innocent If you drowned you were innocent Think of the number of innocent people who were convicted of that crime Think of the number of innocent people who were convicted of that crime Some were burned at the stake and the same results if you lived you were guilty if you died you were innocent Some were burned at the stake and the same results if you lived you were guilty if you died you were innocent

The New England Colonies we very different from the other sections of the New World Winter were longer then any other place within the colonies They were a very self sufficient people As we look at the other colonial areas we will be comparing the different areas Are there any questions on the New England Colonies at this time?