New England
New England was the name given by Captain John Smith in 1614 to the coastline of America north of the Hudson river, between the 41st and 45th degrees. Two years later he published a Description of New England, claiming at least 25 fine harbours. The Mayflower settlers landed at Plymouth in 1620 and the name New England was applied to the colony at Plymouth (later absorbed by Massachusetts), New Haven (later part of Connecticut), Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. A New England Confederation, or United Colonies of New England, in 1643, to co-ordinate defence, though ineffective, was an early example of inter-colony collaboration. The New England colonies, with their strong puritan tradition, ultimately became the core of American resistance in the War of Independence and it was to cut them off from their neighbours in 1777 that Burgoyne began his march south from Canada down the Hudson river, which ended with his capitulation at Saratoga.
J. A. Cannon
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NEARBY TERMS
New England