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The first colonies in North America were settlers from Spain, France, Sweden, Holland, and England claimed land beginning in the 17th century. The struggle for control of this land would continue for more than a hundred years. However, the first permanent settlement in North America was by the English in 1607. More and more people arrived in the New World, and by 1732, the English colonies numbered 13. Each colony had its own unique characteristics, but historians lump them into groups based on where they were, why they were founded, and what kinds of industry they had. They divided them into three groups: The New England colonies (Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire), The Middle Colonies (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey) and The Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). The New England, Middle and Southern Colonies grew differently over the period 1619-1760.Examining the three sets of colonies will prove that they were all different: socially, economically, and politically. Reasons for leaving England All of the people that left England were looking to better their lives. The people who settled in the New England Colonies wanted to keep their fa