4.3 Notes The New England Colonies

 The Great Migration o1620’s-1630’s Economic downturn in England (many out of work) oKing Charles 1 raised taxes and dissolved the English legislature (1629) led to chaos!!! oWilliam Laud (head of the Church of England) made life difficult for the Puritans (dissenters)  Can’t hold positions in the Anglican church or England’s Universities  Puritans punished if they wrote anything against the Church of England  Result: 80,000 leave England (Europe and Colonies) This ends in1642 when Oliver Cromwell (Puritan) and army defeat Charles 1 & Cromwell takes over

 The Massachusetts Bay Colony o1629 Charles 1 grants a charter for Puritans and merchants (Massachusetts Bay Colony) – colony settles in New England o1630 Puritans leave England for Mass. – searching for religious freedom  John Winthrop (colony governor) made a speech that a covenant (sacred agreement) had been made with God to build an ideal Christian community. oPuritans well-prepared when arrived  Tools, livestock  Little resistance from Indians  Few Puritans die from disease  Traded with the colonist of Plymouth (animals and grains)  End of 1630 many towns established – Boston (capital) 1680 New Hampshire became a royal colony

 The New England Way oMassachusetts Bay Company – governed its own colony but had to follow English law (but had more independence than the Virginia colony – royal colony) oThe General Court was the government  Representatives from each town (2-3 deputies)  Elected governor  1644 became a two house legislature Majority vote required for decisions  Government leaders also religious leaders  Male church members only allowed to vote – had to be among the “elected” – prove their faith through examinations Changes in late 1600’s – if you owned land you could vote Town meetings – decided local issues such as supporting schools and regulating timber cutting,etc

 Daily Life and Customs – (Centered around family, religion, & public duties ) oThe Economy  Most neither wealthy nor poor  Skilled workers & experienced farmers (corn & hogs); some into fur trade and fishing oFamily Life  Men married 26/women 22 (average) Many children (to help on farm and overcome death) oEducation  To read Bible and understand laws of the country  Both men and women (by % of men and 45% of women could read and write in New England

oDissent in Massachusetts  Thomas Hooker (preacher) took followers and founded Connecticut because of religious disagreements in Massachusetts Over suffrage and belief that government must answer to the people Estab. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which defined powers of colonial government

Roger Williams & Rhode Island * Another preacher who disagreed with leadership of Massachusetts over treatment of Indians (taking land) and the role of the General Court * Forced to leave, settled in what is today Rhode Island (based upon separation of church & state; fair dealings with Indians.

oAnn Hutchinson  Banished from colony for religious ideas (a person could have their own relationship with God) oThe Salem Witch TrialsThe Salem Witch Trials  Belief in witchcraft was common This was suspected when one girl was having “fits” People starting accusing each other of witchcraft In the end 19 people executed Many local officials regretted their participation in the killing of these 19 people.