University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
The early settlers to the New World began to map strategy for their own system of government. This site details that strategy and what kinds of events spawned the idea of representative government.
Digital History
Digital History: British Mercantilism and the Cost of Empire [Pdf]
Learn about the theory of mercantilism and how it affected the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. Practice making a bar graph showing the value of exports to and imports from England between 1700 and 1774 with...
Syracuse University
Syracuse University: Map of New England, 17th Century
A map that shows the seventeenth-century migration routes of the Puritans from England to New England. Early population centers are designated as well as some interregional migrations.
Other
17th Century Colonial New England: "The Tryal of g.b" by Cotton Mather
Modern English transcript of Cotton Mather's original account of the trial of "G.B." recorded during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
A brief discussion of the colonial period in the United States. Includes information on New England, the middle colonies, and the southern colonies. Also, find out about the early government, and the French and Indian War.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Colonial House: Fearless and Faithful
A lesson plan based on the PBS program, Colonial House, which aired in 2004. The program is available on DVD and the link to the activity is still available. This lesson plan explores why ordinary people left their homes in Europe to...
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill: Colonial Economy and Patterns of Society
Although tied to pages from a specific text, these AP study questions allow anyone to consider aspects of colonial economics. (Answers to some of the questions are located at the following link:...
Other
The History of the First Ten Newspapers in America
This site contains a brief history of the first ten newspapers printed in colonial America.
Digital History
Digital History: Slavery in the Colonial North
Read a very brief description of slavery in the New England and Middle colonies.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Colonial Religion
The site provides a detailed overview of role religion played in the lives of the colonists. Content explores how religion played a part in the Revolution, and the statute for religious freedom, as well as providing a lesson plan, a link...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: American Indians and English Settlers in Colonial America
In this instructional activity, 5th graders examine the relations between Indians and the settlers in the 1600s and 1700s. Background information for teachers is included. Students will work in groups to look at three different colonies...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: English I, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Portraits of early New Englanders as well as four buildings from seventeenth-century New England that accompany accounts in those British colonies of struggles, Indian hostilities, and economic success.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Second Generation of British Colonies
The religious and civil conflict in England in the mid-17th century limited immigration, as well as the attention the mother country paid the fledgling American colonies. In part to provide for the defense measures England was...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
Background information about the literature of the Colonial period in American history. Discussions of capitalism, Puritan theology, and stewardship as found in the thought and literature of the period.
Washington State University
Washington State University: Literary Movements: Salem Witch Trials
A survey of the Salem Witch Trials as well as its background in seventeenth-century colonial New England. Includes descriptions of the accused and analysis of the reasons for the outbreak of witchcraft accusations, a bibliography,...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: A New Colonial System
Although some believe that the history of the American Revolution began long before the first shots were fired in 1775, England and America did not begin an overt parting of the ways until 1763, more than a century and a half after the...
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Early Settlements: Quiz (2)
This 10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and includes a variety of questions covering early settlement of the New England colonies.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: Anne Bradstreet
English immigrant in the New World, Anne Bradstreet became an acclaimed poet of Puritan New England. Click on "Anne Bradstreet Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: Sarah Kemble Knight
Business woman and author, Sarah Kemble Knight, was a humorist writer who documented her travels and the times of seventeenth century New England. Click on "Sarah Kemble Knight" for related resources.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Divining America: Religion in American History
A collection of scholarly essays consisting of instructional guides accompanied by commentary. Designed to help teachers of American history bring students to a greater understanding of the role religion has played in the development of...
Digital History
Digital History: Explorations: Indentured Servitude and Slavery
South of New England, half of all immigrants arrived in various forms of unfreedom: as indentured servants, apprentices, tenants, convicts, or slaves. George Washington's namesake--a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses named George...
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Anne Hutchinson: American Women's Movement
This instructional activity focuses on the life and trials of Anne Hutchinson, who fought for the rights of women in mid-17th century New England.
Other
Memorial Hall Museum: Wells Thorn House: 1600 1740: Early Colonial Style
Useful tool for investigating an early type of American colonial architecture based on English post-medieval style. Roll over the photograph of the oldest wing of the Wells-Thorn House to isolate architectural design elements and learn...
Other
Lost Colony: England's Expeditions to the New World 1584 1590
A short history of the attempt to establish a British colony on Roanoke Island which ended with the mysterious disappearance of the colonists.