Colonial life in America varied greatly depending on the region. In the New England colonies, families often engaged in farming, fishing, and trade. Towns were small, and communities were tightly knit, with a focus on religion and education. Homes were typically simple, made of wood, and families worked together to sustain their livelihoods. In the Southern colonies, the economy relied heavily on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops like tobacco and cotton. Plantations were common, and many families owned enslaved people to help with labor. Social structures were more hierarchical, with wealthy landowners at the top and poorer farmers and laborers below.