New England Colonies (Pilgrims, Puritans and Persecution, Oh My!)

Religious Persecution in England

Religious Persecution in England England broke from the Catholic Church because Henry VIII wanted a divorce, which created the Anglican church Many Protestants thought it was still too similar to the Catholic Church, so they spoke out against it Since England was Anglican by law, this led to lots o’ persecution Religious Persecution in England

Pilgrims and Puritans are very different! PILGRIMS are separatists, meaning that they wanted to LEAVE the Anglican church and form their own church. PURITANS were not separatists but instead were reformers. They wanted to PURIFY the Anglican Church Pilgrims vs. Puritans

Pilgrims go to The Netherlands

Pilgrims go to The Netherlands Pilgrims were especially persecuted in England because they openly practiced a different form of Christianity than Anglican. Many traveled to the Netherlands because the Dutch had laws that allowed people to openly worship any religion (religious tolerance) Pilgrims go to The Netherlands

Pilgrims change their minds (The Dutch were just too Dutch)

Pilgrims change their minds (and go to America instead) They did not like how their children were choosing to speak Dutch and follow other Dutch traditions. They wanted their children to be English and drink tea! So they went back to England and met with some investors who helped them get a charter for the New World Pilgrims change their minds (and go to America instead)

Sailing Off Course & the Mayflower Compact It was a document that said that together, they would pass fair laws to protect the general good. Sailing Off Course & the Mayflower Compact

Puritans also Leave England

Puritans also Leave England (The Great Migration) In the 1620s, several things happened in England that led Puritans to leave as well. Economic Depression Higher Unemployment Higher Taxes Persecution of Puritans for being dissenters Puritans also Leave England (The Great Migration)

Massachusetts bay Colony

Massachusetts bay Colony John Winthrop led the Puritans to the New World to form the Massachusetts Bay Colony. A guiding principal was that the Puritans had made a promise with God to form the ideal Christian community Religion became intertwined in the government there. Massachusetts bay Colony

Governing in Massachusetts Bay

Thomas Hooker

Thomas Hooker did not like that you had to be a member of God’s elect in order to vote, so he left and formed Connecticut. Non-church members could vote, making the colony more democratic. He is now known as the Father of American Democracy. Thomas Hooker

Roger Williams

Roger Williams was a Puritan that did not agree with a lot of what was happening in Massachusetts. He wanted to breakaway from the church. Puritans were afraid that he would cause an upheaval, so they kicked him out and he formed a new colony called Providence (Rhode Island). Roger Williams

Anne Hutchinson

Anne Hutchinson did not believe that Christians needed to be in the presence of a minister to have a relationship with God. Religious leaders did not believe that women should have opinions about church or public life She was banished & formed her own colony called Portsmouth, which later combined with Providence. Anne Hutchinson

New England Geography

New England’s climate was very different from the South. So far north, it was very cold, the winters long, and the growing season short The soil was rocky and infertile. Growing cash crops was not a feasible economic goal. New England Geography

New England Economy

Because the people and resources were diverse, the jobs were also quite diverse. The most common jobs included Trading (merchants), Fishing, and Shipbuilding. There were also many skilled craftsmen working in printing, blacksmithing, weaving, etc. It was rare to see many slaves here (eventually). New England Economy

New England Culture

The culture of New England was that most immigrants arrived in FAMILIES. The focus was less on profit and more on RELIGION, which kept the community together (and kept outsiders away). There was also a strong focus on Education! (so that people could read the bible). New England Culture

Education

The Massachusetts Bay colony was the first to build schools with tax dollars. They were also the first to pass laws requiring every child to attend school and build schools of higher education: Harvard College was founded in 1636 The southern colonies would not open the College of William and Mary until 1693 Education