New England is an area in the northeastern United States. It is made up of six states - Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. The history of New England is long and interesting. First, the area was home to Native American tribes for thousands of years. Europeans began to arrive in the early 1600s, and eventually these settlers formed the first towns and states in New England. The settlers created industries such as farming, fishing, and trading, and the colonies grew. They declared independence from Britain during the American Revolutionary War, and became part of the United States in 1783. Since then, New England has seen a lot of growth, development, and change. It is now home to many of the United States' most famous cities, universities, and tourist attractions.