Wanderlust World Wanderlust World All founded by English Puritans/separatists in the 1600s, the five New England colonies developed distinct identities shaped by geography, faith, and governance.
| Colony | Founded | Primary Industries | Religious Character | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 1620 | Fishing, fur trade, subsistence farming | Separatist (Pilgrim) Congregationalist | Mayflower Compact (self-governing covenant) |
| Massachusetts Bay | 1630 | Fishing, fur, farming, whaling, shipbuilding | Puritan (Congregationalist) — theocratic tendencies | Royal Charter (1629); General Court (bicameral) |
| Connecticut | 1636 | Farming, fur, manufacturing (iron), whaling | Congregationalist (Saybrook Platform) | Royal Charter (1662); Fundamental Orders (1639) — first written constitution |
| Rhode Island | 1636 | Farming, fishing, trade, early manufacturing | Baptist, Quaker, Jewish, Congregationalist — religious freedom | Royal Charter (1663); separation of church/state |
| New Hampshire | 1629 (settled), 1679 (royal colony) | Fishing, lumber, fur, farming | Congregationalist + Anglican (more diverse) | Royal Charter; less democratic, appointed governor |
These differences seeded American pluralism: town meetings, religious freedom, written constitutions, maritime commerce, and the tension between communal conformity and individual liberty — all born in a few hundred square miles of rocky coast.