Rocky Soil Reading Packet
Colonial America Unit
Name: Date:
Rocky Soil Reading Packet
Focus Question:
Why were the New England Colonies founded, and how did their rocky soil and cold climate shape their unique history? Let's explore the stories behind these settlements.
1620 / 1630
Massachusetts: Two Paths to One Colony
Massachusetts began as two separate colonies built on faith. In 1620, Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution landed at Plymouth, signing the Mayflower Compact as a self-rule covenant. In 1630, a larger group of Puritans with a royal charter established Boston. Governor John Winthrop urged them to build a model "City upon a Hill." Though differing in religious strictness, Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay eventually merged into a single colony in 1691.
1636
Rhode Island: Liberty of Conscience
Banished from Massachusetts for his radical ideas, minister and religious dissenter Roger Williams founded Providence. Joined by Anne Hutchinson—another banished seeker of truth—Rhode Island became a safe haven, separating church and state and granting complete "soul liberty" to all faiths.
1636
Connecticut: The First Written Constitution
Seeking fertile land and political voice, Thomas Hooker led his congregation to establish Hartford. Hooker believed government power comes from the consent of the governed. In 1639, they adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, America's first written constitution.
1638
New Hampshire: The Fishing Frontier
Shaped by resources rather than religion, New Hampshire's settlers turned to fishing and timber. Because thin, rocky soil made farming difficult, colonists relied on subsistence farming, vast pine forests, and rich coastal waters for cod trade.
Companion Glossary
Bold words from the text are defined below:
Persecution
Cruel or unfair treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs.
Covenant
A solemn, deeply serious agreement or promise to work together.
Charter
An official document from a king granting land and rights to govern.
Dissenter
A person who openly disagrees with official church laws or rules.
Constitution
A written document detailing the fundamental plan and laws of a government.
Subsistence
Farming in which only enough food is grown to feed one's family, with little left to trade.
Visual Learning Aids Cut-Out or Study Cards
New England Anchor Cards
Use these visual cards as a quick-reference summary of each colony's founders and core purposes. SPED & ELL tip: Pay attention to the primary Visual Symbols that help you remember each colony's main idea!
Mass. (1620 / 1630)
Massachusetts Colony
Theme: Covenant & Holy Model
- Founders: Pilgrims (1620) & Puritans (1630)
- Purpose: Escape religious persecution. Plymouth formed self-rule (Mayflower Compact) while Boston built a "City upon a Hill." Merged in 1691.
- Visual Clue: Mayflower Ship & Hill Beacon
Two separate holy paths merged into one powerful colony!
Rhode Island (1636)
Rhode Island Colony
Theme: Religious Liberty
- Founders: Roger Williams & Anne Hutchinson
- Purpose: Establish a safe haven for religious dissenters with complete separation of church and state.
- Visual Clue: Anchor of Hope & Separation
True freedom of conscience for all beliefs!
Connecticut (1636)
Connecticut Colony
Theme: Written Democracy
- Founder: Thomas Hooker
- Purpose: Expand political voice and voting rights to all free men, establishing a representative government.
- Visual Clue: First Constitution Scroll
The first written constitution in America!
New Hampshire (1638)
New Hampshire Colony
Theme: Resourceful Frontier
- Founders: John Wheelwright & John Mason
- Purpose: Establish resources and trading routes; survive and trade using timber, furs, and cod.
- Visual Clue: Tall Pine Tree & Codfish
Thrived on rocky soil with timber and sea!
Active Learning Tasks Activity Score: / 10
Colonial Retrieval Chart
Directions: Fill out the missing colonial information using Pages 1 & 2.
Colony Name & Year
Key Founder(s)
Primary Reason for Founding
Visual Clue
Massachusetts (1620 / 1630)
Ship & Hill
Rhode Island (1636)
Safe haven for religious dissenters and separation of church/state.
Anchor
Connecticut (1636)
Thomas Hooker
Scroll
New Hampshire (1638)
To seek economic opportunity in fishing, timber, and fur trading.
Tree
Sentence Builders (ELL/SPED Support)
Use these helpful vocabulary starter blocks to complete your chart or answer the prompt:
Describing Covenant: "The Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony by signing the Mayflower Compact, forming a self-governing covenant."
Describing Liberty: "Roger Williams built Rhode Island as a safe refuge for dissenters seeking true freedom of conscience."
Critical Connection Prompt
How did the rocky soil and harsh climate of New England shape its unique economy (like fishing and timber) compared to the farming-rich Southern Colonies? Refer back to Page 1 and Page 2.
