North American Colonies Society

Beginning from the joint-stock companies and the charter in the 1600s to the formation of the thirteen colonies in the mid- 1700s, the colonists transferred English liberty, law, and culture to the colonies. Although the purpose of the colonies was to provide raw materials for goods for the profit of England, the colonies practiced self government and created a new foundation of American identity within the different regions. The North American colonies differed socially and economically but were unified in political aspects.

The people's incentives caused social divergence within the three regions of the colonies. Because the people in New England mainly sought for religious freedom, many were Puritan separatists who typically immigrated in family units. Massachusetts Bay, a semi-communal society, led to a unified, tight-knit community as well as stability within families. Additionally, their religious incentive influenced the importance of education

In Virginia was a bicameral legislature called the House of Burgesses. This political system represented the people because the lower house was elected directly by the people. Another democratic form of self government, the town meeting, existed in New England. The town meeting was an annual open forum of discussion where both men and women were allowed to discuss the needs of a town. Furthermore, the colonies centered themselves around the idea of republicanism, sacrificing one's interests for the common good. The idea depended on the virtue and self- sacrifice of citizenry, similar to that of the Puritan beliefs, to be able to promote the representative government. The fact that all thirteen colonies created a bicameral form of government and practiced self government caused the emergence of a united American identity separate from that of