How did the harsh climate and soil, stern religion, and tightly knit new england town shape the yankee character?

The climate and soil were unprepared for large scale farming which main to their industry in fishing, trade, home industry and large ship building. The puritan religion positioned significance on working hard for God and also on education. This work code and attention on education is what put them ahead of other colonies educationally and had extensive literacy, because of their need to read the Bible. The puritanism positioned a great deal of significance on family life which makes them a very tight knit group that liked a long life-cycle due to hard work and the moral beliefs that their religion educated them.