New England Colonies

New England Colonies Most of these colonists were religious dissidents who did not like the church in England. Puritans wanted to purify the church. They believed the Anglican Church, although Protestant, retained too many ceremonies from the Catholic church. They wanted to reform the church. Separatists wanted to begin their own churches and separate completely from the church.

Puritans John Calvin Followed the teachings of John Calvin Believed if they led moral lives, prayed, read the Bible, and went to church to hear sermons then they could receive God’s grace. Believed only God determined salvation instead of good works and adhering to church rules. Most were small-property owners, farmers, shopkeepers, and skilled artisans. They honored God by working hard in their occupations. They bothered the monarchy by challenging the church. King Charles I began to persecute them by dismissing their ministers and destroying their books. They sought refuge in colonial America. John Calvin

Massachusetts Called Pilgrims Massachusetts Bay Colony Crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a ship called the Mayflower. Came as families About 100 made an agreement called the Mayflower Compact: They agreed to form a government and obey its laws. Massachusetts Bay Colony Established the towns of Boston and Plymouth Settlers also established a republic where Puritan men elected their governor, and assembly.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island 1636  Roger Williams fled there. MA Bay Puritans had wanted to exile him to England to prevent him from establishing a competing colony. Remarkable political freedom in Providence, RI RI becomes known as the “sewer” because it is seen by the Puritans as a dumping ground for unbelievers and religious dissenters  More liberal than any other colony!

Puritan “Rebels” Intelligent, strong-willed, well-spoken woman. Threatened patriarchal control. Anne Hutchinson

Anne Hutchinson’s Trial 1638  she confounded the Puritan leaders for days. Eventually bragged that she had received her beliefs DIRECTLY from God. Puritan leaders banished her  she & her family traveled to RI and later to NY. She and all but one member of her family were killed in an Indian attack in Westchester County.

Puritans vs. Native Americans Indians were especially weak in New England  epidemics wiped out ¾ of the native population. Wampanoags (near Plymouth) befriended the settlers. Cooperation between the two helped by Squanto. 1621  Chief Massasoit signed treaty with the settlers. Autumn, 1621  both groups celebrated the First Thanksgiving.

The First Thanksgiving In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving an official US holiday.

The Pequot Wars: (1636-1637) Pequots  very powerful tribe in CT river valley. 1637  Pequot War Whites, with Narragansett Indian allies, attacked the Pequot village on Mystic River. Whites set fire to homes & shot fleeing survivors! Pequot tribe virtually annihilated, which led to an uneasy peace that lasted for 40 years.

King Philip’s War (1675-1676) Only hope for Native Americans to resist white settlers was to UNITE. Metacom (King Philip to white settlers) Massasoit’s son united Indians and staged coordinated attacks on white settlements throughout New England. Frontier settlements forced to retreat to Boston.

King Philip’s War (1675-1676) The war ended in failure for the Indians Metacom beheaded and drawn and quartered. His son and wife sold into slavery. Never a serious threat in New England again.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Settled in the 1620’s. NH was briefly part of MA until England gave MA a royal charter. The land was granted to Captain John Mason who lived in Hampshire County, England. He sent settlers to the new territory to create a fishing colony. Colonists made money off of timber and fishing.

Connecticut

Connecticut Founded by Thomas Hooker, who came from MA. The New Haven colony was settled in 1638 by a company of English immigrants, who bought the lands of the Indians.  The colony didn’t have a charter, which led to rivalry in the efforts to absorb the towns as they were settled.  The Connecticut colony, like Massachusetts, would not permit anyone who was not a member of church to vote or hold office. Connecticut became the colony for the more conservative Pilgrims.