Historically, American women have always been very independent. The first colonists to come to New England were often young couples who had left behind their extended family (i.e., their parent, sisters,cousins, etc.). The women were alone in a new, undeveloped country with their husbands. This had two important effect. First of all, this as yet uncivilized environment demanded that every person share in developing it and in fighting for their own survival. Women worked alongside their husbands and children to establish themselves in this new land. Second, because they were in a new land without the established influence of older members of society, women felt free to step into nontraditional roles. In addition, there were no rules in the Protestant religion which demanded that women stay in any definite role.