The Northern Colonies

The Main Idea

The pilgrims founded colonies in Massachusetts based on Puritan religious ideals, while dissent led to the founding

of other New England colonies.

Reading Focus

• Why did the Puritans flee England?

• How did dissent among the Puritans threaten the New England colonies?

• What was life like in New England?

Puritans Flee to Freedom Church of England was the official church of the land

People had to attend church and pay taxes to support the church

Dissenters were fined and put in prison Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of England.

Wanted simpler church serviceObjected to the wealth and power of bishops

Separatists were more strict Puritans.Wanted to remove all traces of CatholicismWanted total separation from the Church of England

Plymouth Colony Separatists moved to the Netherlands in 1608 Wars in Europe, wanted to move somewhere to

start their own society Led by William Bradford, 35 Separatists joined 66

others on the Mayflower in 1620. They were supposed to land in an established

colony….accident that they did not? Mayflower Compact Founded Plymouth Colony near present-day Boston Colony never grew very large

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Puritan merchants formed Massachusetts Bay Company.

In 1630 John Winthrop set out with 11 ships and 700 people for New England.

This colony grew faster than Plymouth. Success of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay

colonies inspired the Great Migration. Over 20,000 English men and women came to

settle in New England.

Dissent among the Puritans

Dissenters (people who disagreed) left Massachusetts Bay Colony, settled new towns.

Thomas Hooker settled in Connecticut gave voting rights to all free men

Roger Williams, believed in tolerance and separation of church and governmentSaid settlers should BUY land from natives1636 gov. ordered him arrested & returned to EnglandHe fled, founded Providence (Rhode Island) with land he

bought from natives in 1636

Dissent among the Puritans

Anne Hutchinson Believed that people did not need a minister to be

spiritual. Banished from Mass. Bay, went to Providence with her

followers

Ironically….

Although founded on the principal of “religious freedom”, the Puritan colonies did not necessarily allow freedom of religious expression amongst their citizens….

Life in New England

• Most were royal colonies (ruled by king). In town meetings church members and land owners voted on local matters.

Education

• Believe in educating boys and girls, but boys had more opportunity

• Started colleges like Harvard and Yale

Government

• No longer needed natives for survival; natives now had guns.

• Some Puritans felt it was their duty to drive the Native Americans out or kill them.

• Land conflicts caused Pequot War and King Philip’s War. Both nearly wiped out the Native Americans involved.

NativeAmericans

Massachusetts Trivia Pilgrims called themselves “saints” Nearly half of settlers died the first year Squanto – native who helped Pilgrims had

been to Europe serving as a slave; when he returned, his people were dead

Mass Bay referred to as “City on a Hill” – a model society

Mass Bay started: free education, 2 house government, printing books, trial by jury, modern corporation system

Relations with Natives Pequot War – 1637 in CT, Pequots nearly

wiped out by colonists and native alliesColonists set fire to the fort, shot those trying to

escape, natives allies were upset.

King Philip’s War – 1675 – Metacom (King Philip) organized alliance of natives,starvation, disease and casualties wore them downMetacom killed by a native ally of colonists, his head

was on display for 20 years