The 13 English Colonies: Section 1

The 13 English Colonies Chapter 4 Section 1

New England Colonies • Puritans leave England for Massachusetts – Wanted to separate from Roman Catholic Church – Mainly well educated – Persecuted by Charles I – Given the charter to form Mass. Bay Company – Non-first sons wanted to go in hopes of a better future

• Governing a Colony – 1629 John Winthrop and 1000 colonists arrive – Winthrop chosen as first governor – Originally only stockholders had the right to vote – Colonists resented taxes and laws passed without their input – Eventually any male church

– General Court formed and used elected officials – 1629-1640 colony grew to 15,000

– This movement of people became known as the Great migration – Boston grew into the colony’s

Problems in Massachusetts The questioning of authority was frowned upon • Unhappy colonists were forced to leave • This lead to the formation of new colonies in New England

• Thomas Hooker Founds Connecticut – 1636- Hooker a minister leaves M.Bay – Settled along the Connecticut River – Believed officials in Mass. Bay had too much power – Wanted a colony with strict limits on govt. – Gets its own charter in 1662

• Fundamental Orders of

• Roger Williams Settles Rhode Island – Also left Mass. Bay due to disagreements – Minister – Good ideas but alarming to Puritan leaders – Church had too much power in Mass. Bay – Believed in separation of church and state – Religious Tolerance- willingness

• Anne Hutchinson Speaks Out – Devout Puritan – Began to question Puritan authority privately – Women should not have the power to explain God’s Laws – 1637 brought before Mass. General Court – Held her own until she claimed God spoke to her – 1638 left for Rhode Island with family & friends

Puritans at War with Native Americans • Originally contact between colonists and Native Americans was good • As more settlers arrived, fighting broke out over land. • 1670- 45,000 settlers in New England, on Native American land • 1675- largest conflict- Metacom’s(King Phillip) tribe attacked settlers. Destroyed 12 towns and killed 600+ settlers

– After more than a year of fighting, Metacom captured and killed, his family and about 1000 Indians were sold into slavery – For years this pattern of expansion and fighting would continue

Life in New England Towns

• Tightly knit religious towns and villages • Sabbath- religious holy day- taken very serious • All day church activities were the only thing allowed • Women and men separated at church • Blacks and Indians sat in the balcony

• Government – Town Meetings- discussed and voted on issues – Gave settlers a chance to speak their minds – Encouraged growth of democratic ideas

• Economy – Poor soil – Good forests for lumber and hunting – Sawmills were built

• Decline of the Puritans – 1700’S decline of Puritan traditions – Fewer people leaving England for religious reasons – Ministers loosing influence