The United States began developing as a country in the late 17th century but there were substantial differences between colonies at the time. In the colony of Massachusetts for example, a strong Puritan trend was prevalent as regards religion and after a few years of using slaves, these were set free and incorporated into society. Although farming was obviously an important part of daily life, the Northern regions actually focused more on small industry and this eventually developed to much larger heights at a later stage in the country’s development.
This situation in the North contrasts with what happened in the South in colonies such as Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Here the emphasis was purely on agricultural production, more specifically the growing of cotton and tobacco which required a large slave population to achieve accordingly. Slavery was an important institution to the South and although their religion was also Christianity, Southern elders saw no wrong in keeping slaves who were occasionally treated very badly by their masters.
The country continued to develop susbtantially over the decades leading to the 18th century and by the time the War of Independence was fought, there was a population of three million in the whole of the thirteen colonies. The Northern regions continued to develop their industrial prowess while the South continued to focus chiefly on agriculture and all that. Slavery remained a contentious issue right up to the Civil War which began in 1861 and ended in 1865 but the North-South divide actually continues today too.
Works cited:
Hawthorne J; The History of the United States From 1492 to 1910 From Discovery of America October 12, 1492 to Battle of Lexington April 19, 1775 General Books LLC
McCullough D (2006), 1776, Simon and Schuster
Francis Dow G (1988); Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony; Dover Publications
