In the early 17th century colonization had begun in North America. The lives of the Englishmen had differed greatly in the Northern and Southern regions. The contrast in New England and Southern lifestyles were evident in their social lives, economy, as well as their government systems.
The basis of colonial society in New England was family and religious freedom. Families there were common and very stable. The main reason for this was because New England immigrants usually came to N. America as families to begin with. Families were much more stable here because of their longevity and ability to stay together; life spans in the North were 10 years longer than in the South, there were less diseases, and families began early on. Population increase was caused naturally rather than the import of slaves, which was why slavery wasn't needed in New England. .
In the Southern colonies families were rare and fragile. Immigration to the South was popular with single males because they were in search of jobs or had been sent out to search for gold and/or other raw materials. Families began later because it wasn't their main priority; also there was a six to one ratio of females to males in the South. The harsh conditions and the many diseases in the area amounted to the short life expectancy and lower population increase from natural birth, because the chance of survival was extremely low for children. Slavery became very popular in the South because there was a need for more workers on the large plantations. One other difference in the South from the North was that women held property rights because of the chances of being widowed early on.
Economically speaking the South reigned supreme with large plantations, whereas the North had business in ship building and fishing, because the soil in the North wasn't fertile enough. The South produced rice and tobacco; slavery in the south also skyrocketed and became part of their economic resources.
