Why Settlers Founded Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire

The establishment of these three New England colonies was driven by a mix of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and political autonomy:

Connecticut

• Religious freedom: Puritans sought to practice their faith without interference.
• Economic opportunity: Fertile Connecticut River Valley and access to Atlantic trade.
• Political autonomy: Desire for self-government separate from Massachusetts Bay and British control.

Rhode Island

• Religious freedom: Founded by Roger Williams (banished from Massachusetts) as a haven for all faiths.
• Economic opportunity: Narragansett Bay supported farming, fishing, and shipbuilding.
• Political autonomy: Charter guaranteed separation of church and state and self-governance.

New Hampshire

• Religious freedom: Puritan settlers seeking doctrinal purity.
• Economic opportunity: Coastal trade, timber, fishing, and agriculture.
• Political autonomy: Initially under Massachusetts, gained separate royal charter in 1679.

Together, they exemplify the diverse motivations behind New England colonization.