Colonizing Massachusetts Colony Chapter 13

Chapter 13  King Henry threw out the Catholic Church and started the Anglican Church  The times were very religious and the intolerable differences started wars  PILGRIM: anyone who takes a trip for religious purpose  First pilgrims were from Seperatists and Saints church

Mayflower Compact  They draw this up when they get to America because the Pilgrims knew they needed to get along  King doesn’t realize that these people will not let others rule them for much longer  Let’s take a look at this document…and how it came about….

Passengers among the Mayflower Pilgrims - religious dissenters called Separatists Strangers - merchants, craftsmen, skilled workers and indentured servants; several young orphans

How did they pay for this journey? The Pilgrims signed a contract with a group of London stockholders and in return the stockholders would share the profits!

Answer the Following: 1. What 2 groups made up the passengers on the Mayflower? 2.How were they different from each other? 3.How were they similar to each other? 4.Why did the Separatists decide to come to America? 5.Why did the Pilgrims allow “strangers” to come with them on the Mayflower?

Are we there yet? The 3000 mile journey!!

They landed in Cape Cod…which was way north of their destination!

Why the Compact?  Almost immediately fighting broke out  Cape Cod was out of the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company  The troublemakers threatened to do as they pleased  They faced a real crisis before they even stepped ashore.

Why the Compact cont.  Writing the Compact was considerably harder than they thought: 100 people, cut off from any govt. AND a rebellion brewing  Leaders realized they needed a temporary govt.  Before they even stepped off of the Mayflower both parties: Pilgrims and “strangers” made a written agreement or compact  This pattern of church self-government was the model; idea of self govt. for the 1 st time in the New World

Answer the Following: 6. What events forced the passengers on the Mayflower to write and sign the Mayflower Compact? 7. Who controlled the govt. in England where the Pilgrims came from? 8. Who was allowed to sign the Mayflower Compact? 9. Who got to decide how to worship God in each Separatist church? 10. Who did the passengers declare their loyalty to?

Self-government takes root

Elected Officials  1 st governor was John Carver  2 nd was William Bradford, age 31  1639 deputies were sent to represent each town at the General Court sessions  Now not only self-rule, but representative government

Two Documents English Magna Carta  400 years earlier  Established principle of the rule of law  Mostly meant the king’s law Mayflower Compact  Continued the idea of law made by the people  Heart of democracy  Meant colonist’s law (eventually)  Made a SIGNIFICANT contribution to a new democratic nation!

Answer the Following: 12.Who was elected governor of the colony? 13.Who assembled to elect the governor of Plymouth? 14.How did the representative government begin in America? 15.What is the most important idea contained in the Mayflower Compact?

Agreement Between the Settlers at New Plymouth: 1620 IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty- fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.

Final Questions: 16.What do you think the signers mean by a “civil body politic”? 17.What will the civil body politic do “from time to time”? 18.What do the signers promise loyalty to? 19.Why do you feel the colonists felt a need to establish a government? 20.What might have happened if the people on the Mayflower had not established a government?