HISTORY OVERVIEW
In the 1600's, Europeans began building colonies in North America. Many settlers came to freely practice their religion, claim a piece of land, or as indentured servants. Many of the servants were children, some of these children were stolen off London streets. These strong and hardworking children usually worked as servants until adulthood. By the mid 1700's, thirteen colonies had formed along the eastern coast of North America. The New England Colonies were densely populated, most people lived near towns and cities. The common colonist in these areas were farmers, shop owners, or tradesmen. In the southern colonies most people lived in rural areas, most of these colonist owned small farms but some colonist lived on large plantations. Despite living in the northern or southern colonies, colonial families did hard farm work and chores everyday. In colonial times household items had to be made by hand, they had to make their own soaps, candles, dishes, and furniture. Children helped with planting and harvesting crops, gathering and hunting food, and spun their own thread to sew clothes. In 1783 the colonist gained their independence from England and named their new country the United States of America.