The New England colonies were founded by religious reformers like the Puritans who sought to practice their own forms of worship free from restrictions. They established tightly-knit religious communities centered around towns and villages. The Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay colony based on Biblical laws but dissent arose over who had political rights, leading figures like Thomas Hooker and Roger Williams to establish new colonies with more religious tolerance and expanded voting rights. King Philip's War devastated many New England towns as conflict grew with local Native American groups. The region developed an economy centered around industries like shipbuilding and whaling.