New England Colonies Introduction:
Religious beliefs led the Pilgrims to move to North America and establish Plymouth Colony. Religion played a key role in other colonies that were established in New England.The soil is thin and rocky, which makes farming difficult. Just off New England’s coast are some of the richest fishing grounds in the world.Winters in New England tend to be long and snowy. Summers are shorter and warm. Colonists in these areas caught fewer diseases and lived longer.
Massachusetts & Puritans
Puritans left England to find religious freedom; they established the Massachusetts Bay Company led by John Winthrop in 1630. They received a charter to establish settlements in what are now Massachusetts and New Hampshire. However, they did not allow others to practice different religions in their settlements. Massachusetts Bay had an elected assembly, the General Court in which the Court and colony’s governor were elected each year.
Puritan towns were self governed by town meetings, an assembly of townspeople that decides local issues. These meetings only allowed the male heads of households to participate. They set local taxes and elected people to run the towns.
Puritan towns were self governed by town meetings, an assembly of townspeople that decides local issues. These meetings only allowed the male heads of households to participate. They set local taxes and elected people to run the towns.
Rhode Island
Anne Hutchinson
Disagreements about religion led to the founding of other colonies in New England. Roger Williams, believed that Puritans should split entirely from the Church of England rather than reform it. In addition, he felt colonists should pay Native American’s for land. He bought land in Rhode Island and founded the town of Providence in 1636. He decided that Rhode Island would have no established, or official, religion. People were able to practice religious freedom.
In 1638, Anne Hutchinson was expelled from Massachusetts for questioning the Puritan teachings. In 1642, she established settlements in part of Rhode Island and some of New York State.
In 1638, Anne Hutchinson was expelled from Massachusetts for questioning the Puritan teachings. In 1642, she established settlements in part of Rhode Island and some of New York State.
New Hampshire & Connecticut
Thomas Hooker
Also in 1638, John Wheelright was forced to leave Massachusetts because he agreed with some of Anne Hutchinson’s views. He founded the town of Exeter, New Hampshire and received a charter from the king in 1680.
In 1636, Thomas Hooker left Massachusetts and founded Hartford, Connecticut. The colonists drew up the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, which established a new government with an elected legislature and governor. They received a charter in 1680 from the king.
In 1636, Thomas Hooker left Massachusetts and founded Hartford, Connecticut. The colonists drew up the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, which established a new government with an elected legislature and governor. They received a charter in 1680 from the king.
War In The New England Colonies
King Philip's War
By 1675, the Native American population was decreasing due to conflicts and European disease. Metacom , a Native American chief (but colonists called him King Philip), wanted to stop Puritan expansion. Other Native American groups joined his cause and they began fighting the colonists. The war lasted one year and cost thousands of lives. Metacom and his followers destroyed twelve English towns. The war ended when Metacom was captured and killed; leaving the English colonies free to expand. This became known as King Philip's War. Remember, King Philip is really a Native American chief!
New England Colonial Way of Life
New England colonies encouraged democratic ideas. On a social level, New England was a region where neighbors knew one another. Also, they participated in government. New England families earned their livelihoods in many ways. Farmers grew crops and made leather goods. Fishers caught fish and shipped to customers in Europe. Also, a shipbuilding industry created many jobs. As new generations were born into the colonies, they began to focus more on business than religion.