Colonial life in the 17th and 18th centuries in the New World was diverse and, in many cases, proved deadly through disease, Native American attacks, lack of adequate medical treatment and conditions disastrous weather conditions. Even through all these hardships, the early settlers persevered, doing their best to see the blessings in their lives and create a better life for their children despite all the uncertainties. Nothing, it seems, in the original colonies was set in stone, except that they never knew what the next day would bring. Everything, even small incidents, had a dramatic impact on the social, economic and political aspects of their lives. These circumstances, however, were more strongly influenced by geography than class position, unlike what many were accustomed to in England. How population, economics, disease, and climate played a role in the social conditions of early settlers is truly a story that has lasted for centuries. Whether people sought land, religious freedom, or money and profit, everyone worked to some extent just to survive, let alone thrive, in the wilderness that was North America at the time. Surviving anywhere south of New England was a major challenge for settlers in the 17th century, in part due to the overwhelming majority of men in the society, coupled with a high mortality rate. Just supporting a family was a daunting challenge, and in many cases, this endeavor proved unsuccessful. The population size was maintained only through the immigration of people from England until the end of the 17th century, when the population began to grow on its own. The New England colonies, however, were polar opposites in every sense. The militants of Be......middle of paper......fought for what they believed: that a better life awaited them, or at least their children, in the wilds of the New World. This is what kept them going: contributing to a society that eventually gained its independence, flourished, and is now one of the most prosperous nations in the world. These English immigrants were not rich, nor were they destitute; they were average citizens of England, who came to the New World to model a unique lifestyle for their family. Factors such as population, economy, disease, and climate not only impacted the colonists, but their actions resonate today. The seventeenth century is often known as the simplest period in American history, but in reality the effects of what these early settlers accomplished, holding their ground against what must have seemed insurmountable odds, are astonishing..