New England Colonies
Democratic (?) features of New England Massachusetts Mayflower Compact (Plymouth) Purpose of government to enforce God’s will Voting (in colony-wide matters) White, male, property-owning freeman (members of the Puritan, or Congregational, Church) …How does one become a member of the Congregational Church? Voting (in local matters) White, male, property-owning Colony taxes: funneled into Congregational Church, for members and non- members. Freedman could hire/fire its minister No minister could hold political office Quakers (and other non-believers) within Massachusetts fined and persecuted
Democratic (?) features of New England Rhode Island Roger Williams: Denounced taking Natives land without fair compensation (challenged legality of Massachusetts charter) Did not believe that the government had the right to regulate religious behavior Williams’ colony: Rhode Island Complete freedom of religion, even for Jews and Catholics No colonist had to take an oath decreeing their religious faith No compulsory attendance at place of worship No taxes collected were funneled into a church Voting: white, male, property-owners
Democratic (?) features of New England Connecticut The Fundamental Orders (Hartford)
English and Native Americans 1621: the first Thanksgiving! Featuring Massasoit and the “Pilgrims”… And then… Pequot War (1637) Metacom (King Phillip), and King Phillip’s War (1675) 52 towns (frontier) attacked, 12 destroyed, hundreds of whites killed Metacom and his family
Colonial Seeds of Unity New England Confederation (1643) Purpose/Function? Members? Who initiated it? Benign neglect Dominion of New England (1686) Sir Edmund Andros…and the First American Revolution?
New York and Pennsylvania Think of New York today. How would you describe it? Can we see any of these characteristics in its earliest stages (hint: think of it’s founders) The American Pageant called Pennsylvania Penn’s “Holy Experiment”. Does Pennsylvania deserve that title? If you could rewrite or edit the Pageant, what title would you choose for Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania has been called the colony that most resembles contemporary American society. Do you agree?