The New England Colonies How Do New Ideas Change the Way People Live?
Seeking Religious Freedom Guiding Question: Why did the Puritans settle in North America? The Jamestown settlers had come to America in search of wealth. The next wave, in search of religious freedom. England had been a Protestant country since 1534. (With King Henry s break with the Catholic church). Not everyone in England was happy with the new Anglican church. Many people dissented (disagreed with) Anglican beliefs or practices. Some remained Catholic. Others were Protestants who wanted to reform the Anglican Church. Others wanted to break away from it altogether. (Right, bottom, Cotton Mather.)
Puritans and Separatists Protestants wishing to reform the Anglican Church = Puritans. Those who sought to set up their own churches = Separatists. Separatists were persecuted (mistreated) in England b/c of their beliefs. Some fled to the Netherlands where re they found freedom to practice their religion. They had difficulty finding work. Also worried that their children were losing their religious values and their English way of life. Some Separatists embarked last spring from a quiet spot on the East coast between Grimsby and Hull in a Dutch ship, arriving in Holland after enduring a terrible sea journey all of 14 days later. The women and children left behind were all arrested but the constables did not know what to do with them and they were eventually released to join their menfolk in Amsterdam. The Scrooby group have joined the members of Rev. John Smith's Gainsborough Separatists who moved to Amsterdam a year ago.
The Pilgrims Settle Plymouth In 1620, a group of Separatists decided to move to America. Pilgrim = someone who undertakes a religious journey. They were able to get grants of land from the Virginia Company. They got permission to settle in Virginia & practice their religion freely. The pilgrims sailed to America on a ship called the Mayflower. It drifted off course on its journey across the Atlantic. The first land the Pilgrims sighted was Cape Cod, well north of their target. It was November,winter was fast approaching. Dropping an anchor in Cape Cod Bay, They went ashore on a cold, bleak day in December at a place they called Plymouth.
Color Cross Section: Mayflower
The Mayflower Compact Plymouth was outside the territory of the Virginia Company and its laws. While they were still onboard ship, the Pilgrims signed a document they called the Mayflower Compact. Set up an organized, orderly government. Each signer promised to obey the laws passed for the general good of the colony." The Mayflower Compact = key step in the development of representative, democratic government in America. Analyzing What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?
Native American Help(Thanksgiving foods activity) First winter in America, almost half the Pilgrims died. Illness, hunger, and cold. In the spring, two Native Americans, Squanto and Samoset, befriended the colonists. Taught the Pilgrims to grow corn, beans, and pumpkins. Showed the colonists where to hunt and fish. Squanto and Samoset helped the Pilgrims make peace with the Wampanoag people. For a time, the two groups lived together in harmony. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims included their new Wampanoag friends in a feast of thanksgiving.
New Colonies Guiding Question: What role did religion play in founding the various colonies? 1629, a group of Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Company. Received a royal charter to establish a colony north of Plymouth. Chose John Winthrop to be colony's governor. 1630, Winthrop led about 900 men, women, and children to Massachusetts Bay. Most of settled in Boston. More settlers followed. 1630s, more than 15,000 Puritans journeyed to Massachusetts to escape religious persecution and economic hard times in England. Became known as the Great Migration.
Laws and Religion At first Winthrop and his assistants made the colony's laws. In 1634 settlers demanded a larger role in the government. Adult male church members were allowed to vote for the governor and for representatives to the government. Later, property ownership became a requirement for voting. The Puritans came to America to put their religious beliefs into practice. At the same time, they themselves had little tolerance for different beliefs. They criticized or persecuted people who did not agree with their views. They strictly enforced their own religious rules. This lack of tolerance led people to form new colonies.
Connecticut and Rhode Island To the west of Boston = the Connecticut River Valley. Rich land, better for farming than the stony soil around Boston. 1630s, colonists began to settle this area. A leader of this movement was Massachusetts minister Thomas Hooker. Did not like how Winthrop and other Puritan leaders ran the colony. 1636, Hooker led his congregation to the CRV. Founded the town of Hartford. Other nearby towns were soon established. Three years later these towns formed a colony called Connecticut. 1639, they adopted a plan of government = the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. First written constitution in America. Described the organization of representative government in detail. Like Mayflower Compact, reflected a belief in democratic principles.
Rhode Island A minister named Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island. Felt that government should not force people to worship in a certain way. Believed it was wrong for settlers to take land away from the Native Americans. Forced by Massachusetts leaders to leave the colony, Williams found refuge with the Narragansett, a Native American people. They later sold him land, where Williams founded the town of Providence. With its policy of religious toleration, Rhode Island became a safe place for dissenters. It was the first place in America where people of all faiths could worship freely. Others followed Williams's example. 1638, John Wheelwright led a group of dissidents from Massachusetts to found the town of Exeter in New Hampshire. New Hampshire became an independent colony in 1679.
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Living History: Jamestown, VA http://historicjamestowne.org/