American Colonial Life (1607-1776), the way of life in the 13 colonies that became the United States. Most of the original settlers were English. In the region between New England and Virginia, however, were early colonists of two other nationalities—the Dutch in New York, and the Swedes along the Delaware River. Each nationality brought its own way of living—styles of architecture and clothing, types of food, agricultural methods, and social activities. All, however, learned many useful things from the Indians—especially about native foods—as well as from each other. By the end of the colonial period the differences among the colonies were not those of origin, but regional differences that had developed in America.