Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
Massachusetts Puritans had a desire to purify and reform the Church of England. Many Puritans were educated and successful. Puritans considered England to be in "Evil Times" They asked for and were granted a charter to form the Massachusetts Bay Colony Company's plan was to form a new society based on the teachings of the Bible John Winthrop was a leader Wanted to build a shining "City upon a hill" . . . something for all the world to look up to Religion played a major part in the colony . . . only members of the church could vote. Under the leadership of John Winthrop and other Puritans, the Massachusetts Bay Colony prospered. Between 1629 and 1640 over 15,000 people left England for Massachusetts. The Puritan leaders did not like anyone to question their religious beliefs or the way they governed the colony. The power the Puritan leaders had is symbolized by the Salem Witch Trials - in 1692, 20 people were hanged for witchcraft in Salem, 4 died in jail and an additional 150 people spent time in jail. People who questioned the Puritan leaders were often forced to leave: Anne Hutchinson - a devout Puritan woman who questioned some of the Puritan teachings - she became a symbol for religious freedom but was kicked out of the colony and moved to Rhode Island; Thomas Hooker a Puritan minister who left Massachusetts for Connecticut; Roger Williams, who thought the Puritan leaders had too much power, was kicked out and founded the colony of Rhode Island. Connecticut In 1636, a Puritan minister named Thomas Hooker led 100 settlers out of Massachusetts - these people felt that the Puritan leaders of Massachusetts had too much power. They created the colony of Connecticut. They wrote a plan of government called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. It gave the vote to all men who owned property - including those who were not church members, it also limited the government's power. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut expanded the idea of representative government in the colonies. Rhode Island In 1636 Roger Williams, a Puritan minister who challenged the Puritan leadership of Massachusetts, was kicked out and started the colony of Rhode Island. Williams allowed freedom of religion for all Protestant, Jews, and Catholics (religious tolerance). New Hampshire John Wheelwright, banished from Boston, founded the colony of New Hampshire in 1638. The settlers wrote and signed the Exeter Compact which was patterned after the Mayflower Compact. This again was an attempt to become more democratic in response to the authoritarian rule of the Puritans in Massachusetts. Life in New England Towns and VillagesNew England's rocky soil was poor for farming. The area became one of many small farms with forests full of trees for lumbering and shipbuilding. Sawmills opened on waterways. Good ports encouraged the spread of shipping, fishing, and whaling. New England became a land of tightly knit communities - each town had a village common area where livestock could graze. Religion played an important part in New England society. Town meetings - where many important decisions were made, reflected the strength of democratic ideas in the region. Salem Witch TrialsIn 1692, 20 men and women were executed (by hanging) for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Four died in jail. A total of 150 spent time in jail. The witch trials represent the power the Puritan church leaders had in the government in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Puritans had a desire to purify and reform the Church of England.
Many Puritans were educated and successful.
Puritans considered England to be in "Evil Times"
They asked for and were granted a charter to form the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Company's plan was to form a new society based on the teachings of the Bible
John Winthrop was a leader
Wanted to build a shining "City upon a hill" . . . something for all the world to look up to
Religion played a major part in the colony . . . only members of the church could vote.
Under the leadership of John Winthrop and other Puritans, the Massachusetts Bay Colony prospered. Between 1629 and 1640 over 15,000 people left England for Massachusetts.
The Puritan leaders did not like anyone to question their religious beliefs or the way they governed the colony. The power the Puritan leaders had is symbolized by the Salem Witch Trials - in 1692, 20 people were hanged for witchcraft in Salem, 4 died in jail and an additional 150 people spent time in jail. People who questioned the Puritan leaders were often forced to leave: Anne Hutchinson - a devout Puritan woman who questioned some of the Puritan teachings - she became a symbol for religious freedom but was kicked out of the colony and moved to Rhode Island; Thomas Hooker a Puritan minister who left Massachusetts for Connecticut; Roger Williams, who thought the Puritan leaders had too much power, was kicked out and founded the colony of Rhode Island.
Connecticut
In 1636, a Puritan minister named Thomas Hooker led 100 settlers out of Massachusetts - these people felt that the Puritan leaders of Massachusetts had too much power. They created the colony of Connecticut. They wrote a plan of government called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. It gave the vote to all men who owned property - including those who were not church members, it also limited the government's power. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut expanded the idea of representative government in the colonies.
Rhode Island
In 1636 Roger Williams, a Puritan minister who challenged the Puritan leadership of Massachusetts, was kicked out and started the colony of Rhode Island. Williams allowed freedom of religion for all Protestant, Jews, and Catholics (religious tolerance).
New Hampshire
John Wheelwright, banished from Boston, founded the colony of New Hampshire in 1638. The settlers wrote and signed the Exeter Compact which was patterned after the Mayflower Compact. This again was an attempt to become more democratic in response to the authoritarian rule of the Puritans in Massachusetts.
Life in New England Towns and VillagesNew England's rocky soil was poor for farming. The area became one of many small farms with forests full of trees for lumbering and shipbuilding. Sawmills opened on waterways. Good ports encouraged the spread of shipping, fishing, and whaling. New England became a land of tightly knit communities - each town had a village common area where livestock could graze. Religion played an important part in New England society. Town meetings - where many important decisions were made, reflected the strength of democratic ideas in the region.
Salem Witch TrialsIn 1692, 20 men and women were executed (by hanging) for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Four died in jail. A total of 150 spent time in jail. The witch trials represent the power the Puritan church leaders had in the government in Massachusetts.