New Settlements In 1629 a group of Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Company. And received a charter to form a colony North of Plymouth. This allowed them to establish a society based on the bible. The company was lead by a well educated man named John Winthrop. He lead 900 men, women, and children to Mass. Bay. The choose to settle in a place called Boston.

During the 1630’s more than 15000 Puritans left England for Mass During the 1630’s more than 15000 Puritans left England for Mass. To flee persecution. This movement became known as the Great Migration. The Puritans had little toleration for other religious views. They began to attack anyone who did not share their religious views. This lead to the creation of new colonies.

Connecticut Thomas Hooker was not satisfied with the way Mass. was being run. In 1636 he led his congregation to Connecticut. There they founded the town of Hartford. The soil in Conn. was much more fertile. This allowed the Hartford colonists to survive buy growing crops and selling them. They adopted a plan of government called the Fundamental orders of Connecticut. This was the first written constitution in the United States.

Rhode Island Was settled by a group of people that were kicked out of the Mass. Colony. It was led by Roger Williams who believed that people should not be persecuted for their beliefs. In 1644 he received a charter to create a colony east of Conn. called the Rhode Island and Providence Plantation. Rhode island became the first place in America were people could worship freely.