From the day Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean, religion and trade have played an important role in shaping the New World. Religion defines cultures, changes history and shapes civilizations. During the seventeenth century in New England and the Southern colonies, religion influenced the lives of colonists. Although most settlers heading to the colonies came from Europe, religion and trade would lead them in different directions. The New England colonies were defined by their religion, while the Southern colonies were defined by their tobacco production. Religion was influential in creating the different social aspects in New England and the Southern colonies. The Pilgrims in 1620 were the first settlers in the New England area (Roark 107). They were English separatists, who believed that the Church of England was corrupt and powerless. In 1630, John Winthrop and 700 of his Puritan followers founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Who had left England to lead a pious life (Roark 108). Their aim was to set a shining example of devotion to the English people. The settlers' belief in achieving their goal was so strong that they made a pact between themselves and God. Their determination attracted thousands of new settlers. They were composed primarily of middle-class families, as well as a large number of Puritan ministers. The colony had the highest preacher-to-population ratio of the entire Christian community (Roark 110). They believed in the idea of ​​hierarchy and mutual dependence. Their strong religious beliefs, their commitment to family, and their sense of community defined the colony's social orders. The southern colony at Jamestown, Virginia, was founded when Virginia...... middle of paper......features. The New England colony had extremely strong religious ties that showed in the way their community developed. The southern colonies had a much less religious influence, their main attraction being the increased production of tobacco and other crops. The presence of the English government also differed between the two colonies. The New England colonies remained very independent of the King of England. The southern colonies had much more influence since King James made Virginia a royal colony. Religion has always been extremely vital in the way civilizations develop, whether it is the presence of religion or the lack thereof. Works Cited Roark, James L., Johnson, Cohen, Stage, Lawson, Hartmann. The American promise. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. Winthrop, John. “Freedom is the proper end and object of authority.” Our Nations Archive .