How did the New England colonies regulate land ownership?
Its common lands, fencing, grazing practices, and the mode of apportionment of farms were regulated by the general court or legislature, but each town then took control of land allotments and management. The legislature determined who should be admitted to the town as settlers and freeholders.
What caused the geography of the New England colonies to change?
All of the New England colonies had been covered by ice during the last Ice Age, which created poor, rocky soil. The final melt-back of the glaciers left some of the rocky areas peppered with large boulders.
What did the New England colonies do with the fur trade?
They sold these furs back to Europe and the fur trade grew into a successful industry. Lumber and iron ore were also profitable industries for New England colonists, since these were both important resources in England. Initially, most goods were transported by boat, but colonists soon developed roads to carry timber to the waterways.
What resources did the New England colonies use to create technology?
This resource, as well as mountain iron ore deposits and charcoal from the thick woods, fed New England smithies and foundries, laying the technological basis for future New England industry. How Can I Check My DNA at Home? Genealogy Testing 101
What caused the permanent destruction of New England's forests?
New England's forests still exceeded its cleared land in 1800, but, especially near settled areas the remaining forest had been significantly altered by grazing, burning, and cutting. The greatest of the oaks and white pines were gone, and cedar had become scarce.
How did colonization affect the ecology of New England?
Overview. Colonization ruptured many ecosystems, bringing in new organisms while eliminating others. The Europeans brought many diseases with them that decimated Native American populations. Colonists and Native Americans alike looked to new plants as possible medicinal resources.
What is William Cronon's contribution to environmental history with his book changes in the land?
In this landmark work of environmental history, William Cronon offers an original and profound explanation of the effects European colonists' sense of property and their pursuit of capitalism had upon the ecosystems of New England.
What is Cronon's thesis?
Cronon's thesis, according to him, is simple: “the shift from Indian to European dominance in New England entailed important changes – well known to historians – in the way these peoples…
What was the impact of exploration and colonization on the native peoples essay?
European colonization of North America had a devastating effect on the native population. Within a short period of time their way of life was changed forever. The changes were caused by a number of factors, including loss of land, disease, enforced laws which violated their culture and much more.
What were the changes brought about by American colonization?
As Europeans moved beyond exploration and into colonization of the Americas, they brought changes to virtually every aspect of the land and its people, from trade and hunting to warfare and personal property. European goods, ideas, and diseases shaped the changing continent.
When was changes in the land by William Cronon written?
1983Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England is a 1983 nonfiction book by historian William Cronon....Changes in the Land.First editionAuthorWilliam CrononSubjectEnvironmentalism, History, New EnglandPublisherHill and WangPublication date19837 more rows
How many pages is changes in the land?
288Product DetailsISBN-13:9780809016341Pages:288Sales rank:142,489Product dimensions:8.08(w) x 11.06(h) x 0.77(d)Lexile:1390L (what's this?)3 more rows•Sep 1, 2003
What does ecology deal with?
Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them. An ecologist studies the relationship between living things and their habitats.
In what ways does Cronon criticize the concept of wilderness?
According to Cronon, “Wilderness” does us more harm than good. So what is the trouble with “Wilderness”? Basically, the trouble is that we Westerners tend to look at nature as opposite from civilization. Nature is where humans aren't.
How does Cronon define nature?
Humanist environmentalism stresses a responsible use of nature and calls for compromises and sacrifices to be made by both nature and humanity. The definition of the word nature is in constant flux, Cronon suggested. "I think that nature is an idea," he said.
What is changes of the land about?
Changes in the Land is “an ecological history of colonial New England.” The book's author, William Cronon, argues that the New England landscape was drastically transformed during the 17th and 18th centuries. By focusing on ecological history, it is possible to learn more about human history.
What were the problems that the colonists brought to the New World?
Although the colonists suffered diseases of their own early on, they were largely immune to the microbes they brought over to the New World.
Why was the Plymouth colony not dependent on England?
After only five years, the Plymouth Colony was no longer financially dependent on England due to the roots and local economy it had built alongside the native Massachusetts peoples. Both sides benefited from the trade and bartering system established by the native peoples and the colonists.
What religion did the New England colonies practice?
The primary religion of the New England colonies was the strict Puritan Christianity originally brought to the Massachusetts Bay colony by ships like the Mayflower, but as the colonies grew and changed, some of the colonists began to move away from that base. So too did views on the Native Americans who shared their land.
What was the purpose of trade in the New World?
Trade was one of the first bridges between New England colonists and local Native American populations. For the colonists, it was about building the infrastructure and relationships they would need to stay and thrive in the New World. For the Native Americans, it was often about building potential alliances. After only five years, the Plymouth ...
What did Native Americans provide?
The Native Americans provided skins, hides, food, knowledge, and other crucial materials and supplies, while the settlers traded beads and other types of currency (also known as “ wampum ”) in exchange for these goods. Ideas were traded alongside physical goods, with wampum sometimes carrying religious significance as well.
What were the first conflicts in the Northeast?
In the first English colonies in the Northeast (as well as in Virginia), there were initial conflicts and concerns over the threat colonists posed to the Native Americans’ long-established territory. Still, colonists were able to build thriving colonies with the help of locals. Trade was one of the first bridges between New England colonists ...
Why did the New England colonies turn to fishing?
Because the region lacked huge tracts of fertile land, the area turned to commerce and fishing as their main occupations, though individuals within towns still worked small plots of land in the surrounding area. Enslavement did not become an economic necessity in New England, as it grew to be in the Southern colonies.
What did the farmers bring to the Boston area?
As a group, the farmers brought a high degree of mechanical ingenuity and self-sufficiency. Fishing: Boston began exporting fish in 1633. In 1639, Massachusetts Bay was exempted from paying taxes on fishing boats; and as a result, by 1700, the fishing industry was huge.
What was New England covered with during the Ice Age?
All of the New England colonies had been covered by ice during the last Ice Age, which created poor, rocky soil. The final melt-back of the glaciers left some of the rocky areas peppered with large boulders.
What resources did the colonists use to build their rivers?
The major resources available and used by the colonists were lumber and fish.
What are the New England colonies?
The New England colonies consisted of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. These colonies shared many common characteristics that helped define the region. The following is a look at these key characteristics.
Why did God choose the British colonies?
The idea that God had chosen the British colonies for a special destiny to take the North American continent and develop and maintain an ideal of liberty and democracy later fed into 19th century manifest destiny.
How long did small towns last in New England?
The small towns only lasted a few years, as the populations outgrew the 40-acre supporting fields. That resulted in the rapid increase of many new small towns: instead of having a few large metropolises, New England was dotted with many smaller towns that were established by breakaway groups.
What were the economics of the colonies?
Economics in the colonies: Colonial economies developed based on each colony’s environment. The New England colonies had rocky soil, which was not suited to plantation farming, so the New England colonies depended on fishing, lumbering, and subsistence farming. The Middle colonies also featured mixed economies, ...
Why did the New England colonies pop up?
The New England colonies were founded to escape religious persecution in England.
What was the Mayflower Compact?
Taking into account that the English colonies were still under the British crown, creating the Mayflower Compact was unusually democratic for the time. Interactions with Native Americans: Unlike the Spanish, French, and Dutch colonizers, the English colonizers rarely married Native Americans.
Why were the Middle Colonies called the Breadbasket Colonies?
The Middle colonies were also called the “Breadbasket colonies” because of their fertile soil, ideal for farming . Demographics in the colonies: The New England colonies attracted Puritan settlers with families and not single indentured servants, unlike the Chesapeake colonies.
What colony was founded by the Puritans?
Founded the colony of Providence in 1636, after being pushed out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for criticizing Puritanism. Providence became part of the colony of Rhode Island in 1663. Separatists / Pilgrims. A group of Puritans who wanted to separate completely from the Church of England (rather than reform it).
What is a Proprietary Colony?
Proprietary colony. Colonies that were under the authority of individuals that had been granted charters of ownership, like Maryland and Pennsylvania. Puritans. A group of Protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England.
What were the rules of colonial trade?
A series of acts passed between 1650 and 1673 that established three rules of colonial trade: first, trade must be carried out only on English ships; second, all goods imported into the colonies had to pass through ports in England; and third, specific goods, such as tobacco, could be exported only to England.
What did New Englanders find?
During later exploration and settlement, New Englanders found abundant "bog iron," iron ore that had been deposited in low-lying areas by Ice Age glaciers. This resource, as well as mountain iron ore deposits and charcoal from the thick woods, fed New England smithies and foundries, laying the technological basis for future New England industry.
What did the first settlers in New England focus on?
The first settlers in New England focused on fur and fish, as well as building sawmills as quickly as they could to take advantage of the plentiful tall, straight trees that crowded the new land. Such trees were ideal for shipbuilding, and later New England became known for building the finest ships sailing the Atlantic.
Why were portable resources important to the British?
These portable resources were ideal for England's purposes, because nascent British industries could take these raw materials, turn them into finished goods and sell them back to the colonies and other nations. The first settlers in New England focused on fur and fish, as well as building sawmills as quickly as they could to take advantage ...
Why were the New England colonies so slow to accept African slaves?
New England colonies were also slower to start accepting African slavery in general—possibly because there were local alternatives to enslaved Africans. Early in New England’s history, a different kind of human trafficking emerged: enslaving and shipping local Native Americans to the West Indies.
What was New England known for?
Although New England would later become known for its abolitionist leaders and its role in helping formerly enslaved Southern blacks and those escaping slavery, the colonies had a history of using enslaved and indentured labor to create and build their economies. The Origins of American Slavery.
What were the forced labors in the South?
As in the South, enslaved men were frequently forced into heavy or farm labor. Enslaved women were frequently forced to work as household servants, whereas in the South women often performed agricultural work. New England’s Forced Laborers: the Enslaved, Indentured Servants, and Native Americans. Part of the reason slavery evolved differently in ...
Why did slavery evolve differently in New England than in the middle and southern colonies?
Part of the reason slavery evolved differently in New England than in the middle and southern colonies was the culture of indentured servitude. As a carryover from English practice, indentured servants were the original standard for forced labor in New England and middle colonies like Pennsylvania and Delaware.
How long did indentured servants work?
These indentured servants were people voluntarily working off debts, usually signing a contract to perform slave-level labor for four to seven years. Historians estimate that more than half of the original population of the American colonies was brought over as indentured servants.
Why did Southern economies depend on slaves?
Those Southern economies depended upon people enslaved at plantations to provide labor and keep the massive tobacco and rice farms running. But without the same rise in plantations in New England, it was more typical to have one or two enslaved people attached to a household, business, or small farm.
When did the New England colonies outlaw slavery?
It was not until the last decades of the 18th century that the former New England colonies began the long process of outlawing slavery via emancipation statutes. These were "gradual emancipation" laws, however, designed to phase out the institution over many years.
How did imperialism affect the world?
These colonies according to Kipling needed protection from their surroundings. Imperialism had an impact on the world because it created a new market for goods to be exchanged. Countries in Europe were able to acquire new natural resources and raw materials for further production. Then, these countries could sell their goods back to their colonies or elsewhere in the world. The imperialistic movements also had a global impact
What were the causes of the American Revolution?
The causes of the American Revolution have been put down to economic, social and political factors , which have then continued to influence the course and finally the outcome of America's conflict with Britain. Economic factors concerning trade and slavery have been put down to being part of the cause of the American Revolution. Yet historians have often debated the influence
What did the New England colonists trade with?
The first colonists traded with the Indians, receiving furs in exchange for European goods. They sold these furs back to Europe and the fur trade grew into a successful industry. Lumber and iron ore were also profitable industries for New England colonists, since these were both important resources in England.
Why did the New England colonists come to the New World?
Though the most important goal of early New England colonists was to provide food and necessities for themselves and their families, many settlers came to the New World in search of untapped resources and financial opportunities.
Physical Characteristics of New England
The People of New England
- The New England region was an area of mostly homogeneous culture, mostly settled by large groups of people from England who were fleeing religious persecution or seeking new opportunities.
- The New England colonists settled in towns, typically surrounded by 40 square miles of land that were farmed by the individuals who lived in the towns.
- The New England region was an area of mostly homogeneous culture, mostly settled by large groups of people from England who were fleeing religious persecution or seeking new opportunities.
- The New England colonists settled in towns, typically surrounded by 40 square miles of land that were farmed by the individuals who lived in the towns.
- Indigenous groups such as the Pequot in Connecticut were involved in extensive trading with the Dutch, but the situation became tense when the English started arriving in the 1630s. Britain launche...
Major Occupations in New England
- Agriculture: Land surrounding the farmswas not terribly fertile. As a group, the farmers brought a high degree of mechanical ingenuity and self-sufficiency.
- Fishing:Boston began exporting fish in 1633. In 1639, Massachusetts Bay was exempted from paying taxes on fishing boats; and as a result, by 1700, the fishing industry was huge. The colonists obtai...
- Agriculture: Land surrounding the farmswas not terribly fertile. As a group, the farmers brought a high degree of mechanical ingenuity and self-sufficiency.
- Fishing:Boston began exporting fish in 1633. In 1639, Massachusetts Bay was exempted from paying taxes on fishing boats; and as a result, by 1700, the fishing industry was huge. The colonists obtai...
- Commerce:Individuals from the New England area were heavily involved in commerce. Extensive trade with England allowed ship holders to flourish, and the New Englanders also maintained lucrative tra...
New England Religion
- Calvinism and the Social Contract Theory: Many individuals who lived in the New England area were Calvinists or heavily influenced by John Calvin's works and thought. While many look at John Locke...
- A Belief in Predestination: One of the tenets of Calvinism is the idea of predestination. This was the belief that God had already predetermined everything, including who was going to he…
- Calvinism and the Social Contract Theory: Many individuals who lived in the New England area were Calvinists or heavily influenced by John Calvin's works and thought. While many look at John Locke...
- A Belief in Predestination: One of the tenets of Calvinism is the idea of predestination. This was the belief that God had already predetermined everything, including who was going to heaven and wh...
- Congregationalism:This style of religion means that the church itself was governed by its own members, and the congregation chose its own minister, rather than being assigned one by a hierarchy.
- Intolerance: While the Puritans might have escaped England due to religious persecution, the…
The Spread of The New England Population
- The small towns only lasted a few years, as the populations outgrew the 40-acre supporting fields. That resulted in the rapid increase of many new small towns: instead of having a few large metropolises, New England was dotted with many smaller towns that were established by breakaway groups. This low-intensity settlement pattern lasted until the 1790s when a transitio…
Sources and Further Reading
- Carroll, Charles F. "The Timber Economy of Puritan New England." Providence: Brown University Press, 1973.
- Foster, David R. "Land-Use History (1730-1990) and Vegetation Dynamics in Central New England, USA." Journal of Ecology80.4 (1992): 753–71.
- Foster, David R., Glenn Motzkin, and Benjamin Slater. "Land-Use History as Long-Term Broad …
- Carroll, Charles F. "The Timber Economy of Puritan New England." Providence: Brown University Press, 1973.
- Foster, David R. "Land-Use History (1730-1990) and Vegetation Dynamics in Central New England, USA." Journal of Ecology80.4 (1992): 753–71.
- Foster, David R., Glenn Motzkin, and Benjamin Slater. "Land-Use History as Long-Term Broad-Scale Disturbance: Regional Forest Dynamics in Central New England." Ecosystems 1.1 (1998): 96–119.
- Scott, Donald M. "The Religious Origins of Manifest Destiny." Divining America: Religion in American History. National Humanities Center.