As the original thirteen colonies developed, they soon grew to be classified by cultural and geographic differences. They were classified into the New England colonies, the Middle colonies, and the Southern colonies. This division has long been a source of disunity between the colonies and later the states. The New England colonies consisted of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The northern most of the colonies, New Englands main geographic trait was barely arable land, long winters, and broad forests. Unlike the other colonies, agriculture was never a strong industry in New England. Slaves were never needed to work the small farms that sprung up occasionally. Slavery died out in New England in the shortest amount of time because of this. However, port cities such as Boston became some of the most important trade centers and harbors in North America. Due to the poor production of food in New England, trade became the most lucrative profession. By importing food and exporting manufactured goods, New England cities became wealthy places of commerce. The broad forests supplied ample lumber to support the major ship building industry that developed in New England. Also, other industries that supported sea-based trade like barrel-making and dry-docks brought wealth to New England shipwrights. .
The culture of New England was most deeply affected by the Puritan founders of the original settlements of New England. The Puritans were a hard working, religious people. They tolerated no other religion but their own, despite the fact that they migrated to the New World to find religious freedom. The resiliency of these people made them able to carve colonies out of the hostile environment. Unlike settlers to the other colonies, New England Puritans tended to stay in the New World, and brought their families and servants with them. While Massachusetts was the major Puritan center, the other New England colonies came about due to the Puritans strict intolerance to other religions.
