As with most locations for settlements in any civilization the key factor is settlements were located in the lowlands where the land was fertile and could be farmed. Geography is very important when a site is picked for settlement. The site must be able to support human activity.
freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press
Depending on what you mean, it changed when the north saw that slavery was not just, and started goin on the attack on it. Which lead to the whole civil war of confederates vs the union
