The New England Colonies
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Transcript of The New England Colonies
Reforming England in America
Pilgrims Separatists who refused to
worship in the Church of England
1620—Plymouth founded
Mayflower Compact
Governor William Bradford and Squanto ensured colony survived
1691—absorbed into Massachusetts Bay
“The Great Migration”
1630—John Winthrop led Puritan group to Massachusetts with charter giving them power to make decisions without direction from England Declared they would form a
“city upon a hill”
“A City upon a Hill”: Settlement
1630-1640—16,000 immigrated
Settlers usually came as family units
Area settled was generally healthy
Puritans’ view of their colony: Success as part of covenant with God A “beacon of righteousness” to the
world
Church attendance required, but membership not automatic
“A City on a Hill”: Politics
Public confession and execution of criminals
Government by elected representatives responsible to God
All adult male church members could vote
Ministers had no formal role and were prohibited from holding office
Town was center of Puritan life
Limits of Religious Dissent: Roger Williams
Extreme separatist
Questioned validity of colony’s charter
Advocated toleration of religious beliefs, while Puritans opposed religious dissent
Expelled to Rhode Island, 1636
Limits of Religious Dissent:Anne Hutchinson
Claimed direct divine inspiration by the Holy Spirit
Suggested Puritan ministers were no better than those of Church of England Called established church into
question
Banished to Rhode Island in 1637
Immigrant Families and New Social Order
Huge population growth caused by high life expectancy
Multigenerational families strengthened social stability
Education valued and provided by the family
Social Hierarchy in New England
Absence of a rich elite class necessitated creation of new social order Much more equal society than
Chesapeake
Only moderate disparities of wealth
King Philip’s War
1675—Metacomet led alliance against colonists
Colonists struggled to unite, to defeat Indians
Deaths totaled 1000+ Indians and colonists
Plymouth Colony lost 8% of its adult male population
By the end of the war, one-third of New England's approximately 100 towns had been burned and abandoned