New England History

In many ways, New England is history – both literally and figuratively. Driving through the countryside, tourists can pass an old stone wall that was built by colonists before the United States was born. An old covered bridge could have been crossed by a troop of militiamen marching off to battle against British soldiers in the Revolutionary War. New England is a pillar in the foundation of the country and each of the six states comprised by the region are an important part.

In fact, the history of New England dates back to before European settlement. American Indians tribes, principally the Algonquians and Iroquois, were living in what was to become Connecticut and Vermont since approximately 7,000 BCE. As European settlers moved into the area, most traces of the Indians were obliterated, except for the Pequot tribe, who these days are known for running the largest casino in the world, the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.

Revolution

The influence of New England in American history was at its height before, during, and the years after the American Revolutionary War. As the center of the most densely populated region, and the location of most of the shipping and trading centers, New England had the most contact with the government in mother England. The colonists wanted to be left pretty much alone; England wanted them to pay taxes for the army that kept Indians and the French from invading.

England and the companies that had financed colonization also wanted as much profit as could be had from the riches of the New World. This friction led to events such as the Boston Tea Party, where colonists dressed up like Indians and threw barrels of overtaxed tea into Boston Harbor, and the Boston Massacre, where five colonists were killed while protesting against British troops protecting a government building in Boston.

Decay and Rebirth

During the 19th century New England saw its importance and standing in the country diminish significantly as the population moved south and west. The completion of the intercontinental railroad meant farmers and manufacturers no longer depended on the deep water ports of the Northeast and the economic vitality of the region collapsed further. By the later portion of the century, New England farmers were simply abandoning their land and moving west, unable to find buyers.

The 20th century and tourism has seen a rebirth of the region. City dwellers in New York and Boston seeking to "get away from it all" have meant a boom in land prices and the relatively short trip from cities to ski resorts, beaches, and wilderness areas has meant economic revitalization for many New England areas, but not for all.

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