New England Colonies Research Paper

Between the years of 1600-1754, three distinct regions were formed in the new world. The three main English settlement areas were categorized into the New England, Middle, and Southern group of colonies and all had major differences and events that led to their own identity. Many people moved to these new colonies to start a new life, try to make a large profit, or even to escape religious restrictions. These three areas provided a new place for people or families to start over and control their own futures, and this played a major role in history. First, the New England Colonies played a very important part in the establishment of a new world. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire made up this area. The Pilgrims …show more content…
The English were irritated by the Dutch in New Netherlands, and they viewed the area as part of its North American claim. This was the barrier that separated New England from the rest of the English speaking colonies in the South. This divided the colonies and they were not happy about it. When Charles I became the king of England, he granted New Netherlands to his brother, James, the Duke of York. In 1664 an English fleet sailed to New Amsterdam and demanded the surrender of New Netherlands. Peter Stuyvesant was the governor at the time, and wanted to resist but the people did not support him and he was forced to turn over the land without a single shot being fired. In honor of the Duke of York, the English changed the names of New Netherlands and the town of Amsterdam to New York. When the Duke of York took possession after the Dutch surrendered, he gave a part of the area to two of his friends, Sir George Carteret, and Lord Berkeley. Naming their colony New Jersey, they encouraged colonization by promising land grants, representative form of government, and religious freedom. Society of Friends was a protestant section that arose up in England. The member were called Quakers, and they believed that all people were equal in the eyes of God. They also believed that war was sinful and refused to be soldiers, and they dreamed of establishing a …show more content…
Maryland, the two Carolinas, and Georgia made up the Southern Colonies. George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore, was a prominent Catholic and a friend of King Charles I. He was seeking a haven for Catholics that were being persecuted in England, and he ended up obtaining a tract of land from the King, but died shortly after receiving it. Cecilius Calvert, his son, became the first individual proprietor of an American Colony. In 1634 a settlement was established at St. Mary’s near the mouth of the Potomac River. The settlers were industrious and maintained a friendly relationship with the Native American, and the colony prospered from the start. Food was plentiful and soil and the climate were well adapted to the cultivation of tobacco which quickly became a very important source of income. Maryland was established as a refuge, but Christians of all denominations were welcomed there. People from Virginia, New England, as well as England quickly came to the colony and soon Protestants outnumbered Catholics. In an attempt to prevent religious disputes, Lord Baltimore urged the passage of a Toleration Act. That law provided that all Christians were able to free to worship as they pleased, but it was limited only to the Christians. The formation of North and South Carolina started when in 1663 King Charles II issued a charter to eight nobles to settle in the land south of Virginia. They received