The New England Colonies New England Colonies n

The New England Colonies

New England Colonies n n n Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, & Rhode Island Major economic activity = fishing Very strict colonies with strong religious beliefs Very few slaves here – no need Most were settled by those seeking religious freedom

Pilgrims at Plymouth n Separatists – a group of Puritans – break from the Anglican Church and form their own congregations n n Viewed by King James I as a challenge to his authority leaders of the mvmt were imprisoned 1620 – sail to the “new world” on the Mayflower n Build a colony to practice religion freely

Massachusetts n n n Colony at Plymouth under the leadership of William Bradford Squanto- a native, helps the pilgrims to survive by teaching them to plant & harvest Pilgrims join the natives for a festival to celebrate the harvest and give thanks

Life in Puritan Society n No religious tolerance (only Puritan beliefs!) n n Blasphemy, adultery, and drunkenness are all illegal n n Church attendance mandatory Bible study required Govt. collect taxes to support the church If settler challenged Puritan ideas they could be charged w/ heresy and banished Homes could be searched for “evil” items

New World Growth n Mayflower Compact n n 1 st set of laws created by colonists themselves to govern people in the colonies Great Migration n Movement of over 20, 000 separatists (Puritans) from England to New England.

Creation of Rhode Island n Roger Williams – Puritan minister who founded Rhode Island as a place for freedom of all religions

n n n Roger Williams- Expelled by the Puritan leaders from the colony of Massachusetts because local officials thought that he was spreading "new and dangerous ideas" to his congregants. Williams fled the Massachusetts colony under the threat of impending arrest and shipment to an English prison; he began the settlement of Providence Plantation in 1636 as a refuge offering freedom of conscience. Williams was the 1638 founder of the First Baptist Church in America, also known as the First Baptist Church of Providence.

n Anne Hutchinson – Puritan kicked out of Massachusetts n n She claimed that God told her which ministers were saved and not saved Rhode Island supported religious freedom & total separation of church & state n Many Puritans attracted to this colony