Agenda New England Colonies Power Point

Warm-Up What are the four New England Colonies?

Answer Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut

New England Colonies

Puritans As the seventeenth century approached, England was facing a major religious storm, the Puritan movement. The English followers of John Calvin wanted religious freedom. The area known as New England was soon founded by the Puritans, and were the first permanent European settlements.

Puritans The Puritans turned into critics of the English government, when King James I refused to attack these “besetting evils”. The King would not have this, and he set forth intending to get these people out of England. A small number of the Puritans, who became known as Separatists, fled England.

Religion The church was a very important part of the colonies. Churches were being founded as fast as the towns were being built up. Ministers had much power and influence over the public and private lives of the people, but they usually did not hold any government offices.

Churches The churches answered to no one, each virtually ran itself. Colonists were legally required to attend church on Sunday, and to help support the ministers in each of the colonies except for Rhode Island. Near the end of the seventeenth century, church membership was falling, more so from the men.churches

Salem Witchcraft Trials In February, 1692, three accused women were examined by Magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne. By the time the hysteria had spent itself, 24 people had died. Nineteen were hanged on Gallows Hill in Salem Town, but some died in prison.

Witch Hunt Giles Corey at first pleaded not guilty to charges of witchcraft, but subsequently refused to stand trial. This refusal meant he could not be convicted legally. However, his examiners chose to subject him to interrogation by the placing of stone weights on his body. He survived this brutal torture for two days before dying.