OVERVIEW OF THE NORTHERN COLONIES NEW HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT LONG, COLD WINTERS AS WELL AS MOUNTAINS DID NOT ALLOW FOR LARGE-SCALE FARMING MOST SETTLERS CAME FROM ENGLAND MAIN INDUSTRIES WERE LUMBERING, SHIPBUILDING, FISHING, IRON WORKS, AND WOOL PRODUCTION MOST VILLAGES AND TOWNS WERE NEAR HARBORS IN THE EARLY YEARS LIFE WAS REGULATED BY STRICT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

Differences in Colonizing The New England colonies were very different from the Chesapeake colonies from the very beginning… The New England colonies were established for the purpose of religious freedom, not profit New England settlers were middle class whole families, not upper class gentlemen or indentured servants

A Better Environment The New England region offered a much more hospitable environment for settlers The climate was not as volatile and the region was not susceptible to insects and disease Whole family units offered a greater chance of survival The life expectancy of settlers in the New England colonies was comparable to today (70+ years) In comparison, the life expectancy in the Chesapeake region was around 40 years

RELIGION WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES

THE PILGRIMS, RELIGIOUS SEPARATISTS FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, SAILED ON THE MAYFLOWER AND LANDED AT PLYMOUTH ROCK IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 1620

Establishing Plymouth The Pilgrims would be blown north off-course and in 1620 they landed in Cape Cod and established the colony of Plymouth They had no legal right to this land, but they would later receive a royal charter Mayflower Compact Before going ashore the men of The Mayflower agreed that their government would be based upon democratic, majority rule

Early Years of Plymouth Though times were tough the early settlers of Plymouth were able to survive They were helped by Native Americans who taught them to farm crops like corn, to fish, and to also use fish for fertilizer By 1621 the settlers had stored enough crops to survive the winter seasons

THE PURITANS ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER THE MORE RADICAL PILGRIMS THE PURITANS ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER THE MORE RADICAL PILGRIMS. THEY WANTED TO “PURIFY” THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (RATHER THAN SEPARATE LIKE THE PILGRIMS) TO REMOVE ALL TRACES OF CATHOLICISM. THEY PLANNED TO ESTABLISH MODEL CHURCHES IN THE “NEW WORLD” AND RECEIVED A ROYAL CHARTER TO ESTABLISH THE COLONY.

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE IN NEW ENGLAND RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE THE MOST POWERFUL COMMUNITY FIGURES AND THEY WORKED CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY ELECTED MEMBERS TO REGULATE ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND INTOLERANT OF DIFFERING RELIGIOUS VIEWS STRESSED EDUCATION AND LITERACY AS EVERYONE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO READ THE BIBLE STRONG WORK ETHIC LED TO SUCCESSFUL INDUSTRIES

RELIGIOUS DISSIDENTS CHARTERED RHODE ISLAND ROGER WILLIAMS AND ANNE HUTCHINSON QUESTIONED THE POLICIES AND AUTHORITY OF CHURCH LEADERS IN MASSACHUSETTS Preached the belief of antinomialism (if God has already determined who is saved and who is not then man is not subject to man or God’s laws) THEY WERE BANISHED FROM THE COLONY AND FLED SOUTH WILLIAMS RECEIVED A ROYAL CHARTER TO FOUND A COLONY CALLED RHODE ISLAND OTHER COLONISTS SEEKING RELIGIOUS TOLERATION MIGRATED TO RHODE ISLAND FROM MASSACHUSETTS ROGER WILLIAMS

BY THE MID 1630s ABOUT 20,000 NEW COLONISTS ARRIVED FROM ENGLAND WHO WERE MORE MOTIVATED BY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND IMPROVED LIFESTYLES THAN BY RELIGIOUS FERVOR. SETTLEMENT EXPANDED INTO CONNECTICUT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Puritans were Calvinists PURITAN THEOLOGY Puritans were Calvinists God was all powerful and all-good. Humans were totally depraved. Predestination: God was all-knowing and knew beforehand who was going to heaven or hell. "elect" were chosen by God to have eternal salvation "Good works“ did not determine salvation (like Catholic Church) One could not act immoral since no one knew their status before God. A conversion experience (personal experience with God) was seen to be a sign from God that one had been chosen. -- "visible saints"

PURITAN THEOLOGY John Winthrop: Governor of Mass. Bay Colony Covenant Theology: Winthrop believed Puritans had a covenant with God to lead new religious experiment in New World: "We shall build a city upon a hill" His leadership helped the colony to succeed. Religion and politics: "Massachusetts Bible Commonwealth“ Governing open to all free adult males (2/5 of population) belonging to Puritan congregations; Percentage of eligible officeholders was more than in England. Eventually, Puritan churches grew collectively into the Congregational Church

Half-Way Covenant 1st generation’s Puritan zeal diluted over time Problem of declining church membership 1662: Half-Way Covenant – partial membership to those not yet converted (usually children/ grandchildren of members) Eventually all welcomed to church, erased distinction of “elect”

SALEM WITCH TRIALS The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts from March to September 1693, was one of the most notorious episodes in early American history. Based on the accusations of two young girls, Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams. Under British law and Puritan society those who were accused of consorting with the devil were considered felons, having committed a crime against their government. The punishment was hanging.

SALEM WITCH TRIALS disapproval of Reverend Parris Causes disapproval of Reverend Parris land disputes between families, Indian taught witchcraft to girls. Girls caught dancing, began to throw fits and accuse people of bewitching (To put under one's power by magic or cast a spell over) them to not get in trouble. 19 hung, 1 pressed, 55 confessed as witches and 150 awaited trial. Shows the strictness of Puritan society Shows how a rumor can cause hysteria even to illogical thinking. Later, many people involved admitted the trials & executions had been mistake.

The decline of Puritanism PURITAN THEOLOGY The decline of Puritanism First generation Puritans began losing their religious zeal as time went on. Puritan population moved out of town away from control of church. Too much religious intoleration Children of non-converted members could not be baptized. The jeremiad, was used by preachers to scold parishioners into being more committed to their faith. "Half-Way Covenant",1662: sought to attract more members by giving partial membership Puritan churches baptized anyone and distinction between the "elect" and other members of society subsided. Salem Witch Trials, 1692 -- The decline of Puritan clergy           

The Pequot War, 1636-38 The New England colonies would form an alliance with the Narrangasett tribes They would attack the Pequot tribes, a powerful force in the Connecticut and MA regions By 1638 the Pequot peoples were virtually wiped out

KING PHILIP'S WAR Massasoit’s son, Metacom (King Phillip) formed Indian alliance – attacked throughout New England, especially frontier English towns were attacked and burned -unknown numbers of Indians died Boston and a large portion of the entire population was killed The Natives could not hold up the attack and, due to a lack of supplies and devastation from disease, the resistance was crippled and the Natives were pushed permanently from the region 1676: War ended, Metacom executed, lasting defeat for Indians