New England is called New England because it was named by English explorer John Smith in 1616. The region was named to reflect the English origins of the early settlers who colonized the area. The name ‘New England’ was officially sanctioned on November 3, 1620, when the charter of the Plymouth Council for New England was granted by King James I of England. The region includes the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. These areas were among the first to be settled by English colonists in the early 17th century, and the name has remained ever since.
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