Economy of New England

 

In the New England colonies, the soil was rocky and was incapable of growing staple crops. The winters were very cold and long, so this made farming even more dificult. However, they did grow most of their own food, such as corn and wheat. Since the settlers couldn't entirely make their living from farming, they lived in towns instead of on large farming plantations.  Major economic cities in New England included Boston, Massachusettes, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

 

They made most of their money by building ships and trading limber and fish in Europe for manufactured goods. They also traded molasses for rum and slaves. These transactions were known as the Triangular Trade Route.

Triangular Trade Route: America, Europe, and Africa

 

They also used water power to create a great wealth for themselves from sawmills and grain mills.