New England Colonies Religious Tension Massachusetts Bay Colony

New England Colonies & Religious Tension

Massachusetts Bay Colony c Puritans in present-day Massachusetts established the first New England colonies. Puritans were church members that wanted to “purify” or reform the Church of England. Some Puritans wanted to remain members of the Church of England try to reform it from within. Others felt that would not work and formed their own congregations with their own ministers. An example of the Separatists was the Pilgrims, which formed Plymouth Colony. (The 2 nd permanent English Colony in North America)

Massachusetts Bay Colony c While the Separatists formed Plymouth Colony the Puritans started to realize reforms were not working and decided to branch out to New England. John Winthrop and a few friends received a royal charter for a joint-stock company known as the Massachusetts Bay Company. – The Massachusetts Bay Colony was formed in September 1630 and migration began to significantly increase. – John Winthrop became an instant leader of the colony when he gave a sermon about how Massachusetts should become a “city upon a hill. ” This meant that other groups would be look at Massachusetts and they should set a good example. – Massachusetts was not based upon a democracy. However, they did extend more rights than other groups. All adult males that belonged to the Puritan Church were allowed to vote instead of only stockholders in the company.

Mayflower Compact c When the Pilgrims left England their goal was to land in Virginia. Instead they landed in Cape Cod (part of Mass. ) Due to the change in location they knew their charter would no longer be valid. c In 1690 the Mayflower Compact was written as an agreement based upon the consensus of the settlers. c The Compact was drawn up with fair and equal laws, for the general good of the settlement and will of the majority. – The settlers knew that previous settlements had failed due to a lack of government and wanted to prevent that. So they hashed out the content and compromised to allow their own survival. It established that Massachusetts would be free of English law and laws passed by a majority would be binding on Pilgrims and non-pilgrims.

Loss of Massachusetts Charter c In 1684, England tries to get Massachusetts to follow their laws but they refuse, England revokes their corporate charter. Instead they are now a royal colony and under strict control of the crown. c When James II succeeded his brother Charles as King of England he made situations worse. He placed the Northern colonies under a single ruler in Boston. Sir Edmund Andros is chosen to rule New England immediately tells the colonists there only right is to not be sold into slavery. – In 1688, Massachusetts sends their most prominent minister, Increase Mather, to England to try and get their old charter back and Andros recalled. – By the time Mather arrives in England a bloodless revolution has happened that will change everything. While the Glorious Revolution was going on in England the colonists of Massachusetts staged a bloodless rebellion. They arrested Andros and his royal councilors.

Loss of Massachusetts Charter c Parliament restored the original Northern colonies but did make some changes to Massachusetts’ charter. – The king was to appoint the governor and required more religious toleration and non-Puritan representation in the colonial assembly. – This prevents the Puritans from persecuting groups like the Anglicans and the Quakers.

Creation of Rhode Island c Division soon broke out in Massachusetts. Two of the main dissenters were Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson. c Roger Williams was an extreme separatist that had 2 key views: 1. Religious freedom for all. 2. Since the English had no claim to this land they should buy it from the Native Americans.

Creation of Rhode Island c Division soon broke out in Massachusetts. Two of the main dissenters were Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson. c Roger Williams was an extreme separatist that had 2 key views: 1. Religious freedom for all. 2. Since the English had no claim to this land they should buy it from the Native Americans.

Creation of Rhode Island c The General Court was outraged at Williams’s ideas and ordered that he be arrested and returned to England. Before the order can be executed he escapes to Massachusetts and while there he negotiates a deal for land from a Native American leader. On this land he established a new colony called Providence. – Providence would later become the capital of Rhode Island. c One of the dissenters, Anne Hutchinson had taught people in Massachusetts that worshipers did not need the Church or ministers to tell them what the Bible says. In turn she is banished and goes to Rhode Island.

Disputes with Native Americans c While Williams established Rhode Island, thousands of settlers were moving into western Massachusetts and were taking over Native American land. Disputes between Puritans and Native Americans were increasing dramatically. c Native Americans felt that the land belonged to no one and everyone could use it. But they believed treaties with Europeans in which they received gifts meant that they would share the land for a limited amount of time. While Europeans thought this meant Natives gave up all rights to the land.

King Philip’s War c Situations became even worse for Native Americans. They had lost their land were forced to work for European settlers and had to follow certain laws. Such as no hunting or fishing on Sunday. c Wampanoag chief Metacom, who the English called King Philip, hated the restrictions and tried to remove them. He organized his tribe and several others together to try and wipe out the European settlers. – King Philip’s War in the spring of 1675 took the Puritans by surprise as the Natives started using hit-and-run techniques. – This style of warfare went on for a year until food shortages and heavy casualties forced the Native Americans to either surrender or flee. – The Puritans did pay a high price for their victory-about 1/10 th of colonial men of military age in New England were killed. This is a higher percentage of men killed in either the American Revolution or Civil War.

King Philip’s War c Metacom was one of the casualties of the war and after his death; Native American power in southeastern New England was gone forever.

Half-Way Covenant • The Half-Way Covenant was a religious-political solution done by 17 th century Puritans. This allowed the children of baptized but unconverted church members to be baptized and thus become church members and have political rights. • Church leaders had felt that colonists were drifting away from religion as more and more original church members were dying. – To become a member of the church the Puritans had to report an experience of conversion to the church. The same goes for children, before they have full rights they have to report an experience of conversion.

Half-Way Covenant • The Half-Way Covenant essentially allowed children and grandchildren of church members to receive partial church membership. If these individuals accepted the church rules they could become a member without claiming a spiritual experience. • The churches hope was that members would see the advantages of the church and would become full members. Most of the time this did happen because the members were not fully following the church’s rules.