The Massachusetts Bay colony. Harassment by the Church of England, a hostile Charles I, and an economic recession led the NonāSeparatist Puritans to decide to settle in North America. read more
In response, between 1698 and 1717, the English government imposed an unfavorable trade balance on New England and New York by raising duties against major colonial exports like fish (to protect English fisheries) and meat (to protect English agriculture). read more
The New England Colonies of British America included Connecticut Colony, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the Province of New Hampshire, as well as a few smaller short-lived colonies. read more
The New England colonies were settled largely by farmers, who became relatively self-sufficient. Later, New England's economy began to focus on crafts and trade, in contrast to the Southern colonies, whose agrarian economy focused more heavily on foreign and domestic trade. read more