The New England Colonies Chapter 3.2

Religious Freedom Puritans wanted to reform the Anglican Church (also called the Church of England). Separatists wanted to leave the Anglican Church and establish their own church that reflected their own beliefs. Puritans and Separatists both faced persecution in England for their beliefs.

Religious Freedom Many Separatists moved to the Netherlands, but wanted to move to America to enjoy religious freedom. Separatists made an arrangement with the Virginia Co.: in exchange for profits they would be able to practice their religion freely.

Religious Freedom As the journey to North America was made by people seeking religious freedom, they were known as pilgrims. They traveled in the Mayflower. They never made it to Jamestown. They were blown off course and landed much further north.

The Mayflower

What was the New England colony like? Cold climate Rocky soil Short growing season Plentiful forests Rivers and ocean full of fish

Help from the Native Americans During the first winter almost half of the Pilgrims died of hunger, disease and cold. In the spring two Native Americas approached the settlement and offered to teach the Pilgrims how to grown corn, beans, pumpkins and how to hunt and fish. Without the help of Squanto and Samoset it is unlikely that the Pilgrims would have survived.

New Settlements In 1625 a group of Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Company and received a royal charter. John Winthrop became the colonial governor. During the 1630s more than 15,000 Puritans came to Massachusetts. This movement became known as the Great Migration. The General Court became an elected assembly.

Connecticut and Rhode Island Settlements of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield agreed to form a colony. They adopted a plan of government called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. This was the first written constitution in America. Rogers Williams was forced out of the Massachusetts colony. He was a minister who disagreed with the lack of toleration in Massachusetts. He gained a charter and settled the colony of Rhode Island. This was the first place in America where all religious beliefs were tolerated.

Conflict with Native Americans King Philip’s War Metacomet In 1675 New England went to war with the Wampanoag people Their chief was known to the settlers as King Philip and as Metacomet to his own people. Many were killed in this war over land. Metacomet was defeated and the settlers were free to expand.

Summary