Colonial Life: New England -06/14/25

New England Colonies

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island

Colonial population

About 2.5 million people by the mid

New England economy

Focused on shipbuilding, fishing, and sea trade

Major port cities

New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston

Port city trade

Sent raw goods to England and received manufactured goods

Town Halls

Central meeting places in New England towns

Boston Common

First U.S. public park, used for meetings since 1634

Farming in New England

Hard due to cold weather and short growing seasons

Farming mostly happened

In the Southern Colonies, where the climate was warmer

Colonial business

Focused on small, local industries due to tough farming conditions

Cottage industries

Home

Other colonial businesses

Grain mills and lumber yards helped support towns

Why it matters

Location, weather, and trade shaped daily life in New England