New England Colonies Chapter 3, Section 2

New England Colonies

Religious Freedom Early 1600’s, a group of Separatists wanted to separate from the Church of England. King James persecuted, or mistreated the Separatists for rejecting England’s official church. To escape persecution, they fled to Holland, a country known for its tolerance. The Separatists approached the Virginia Company and asked for permission to settle in the Americas. Became known as the Pilgrims, a person who travels for religious purposes.

Pilgrims find Plymouth November 1620, the pilgrims traveling on the Mayflower arrive in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Settled an abandoned Native American village and named it Plymouth. Men aboard the Mayflower signed an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. Helped establish a practice of self-government. Fall 1621, celebrated an abundant harvest. Held three day feast, came to be known as Thanksgiving.

Puritans The Puritans were similar to the Separatists in that they were a group of dissenters. Wanted to “purify” the practices of the Church of England. Were persecuted and forced out of England. In 1630, 1,000 Puritans settle Boston. Between 1630-1640, 20,000 more Puritans cross the Atlantic, known as the “The Great Migration.”

Puritan Government Ideal society= a religious “common-wealth” of tightly knit communities. Created self-governing congregations, or group of people who belong to the same church. Each congregation chose its own minister and set up its own town. Creation of meetinghouse- most important building in town. Used for meetings, a form of self-government.

Puritan Government cont… Puritan valued: 1.) hard work as a way of honoring God. The Puritan work ethic contributed to the colony’s early success. 2.) educating all citizens to read the Bible. 3.) representative government. Puritans brought their traditions of town meetings and local self-government with them to America.

Rhode Island Welcomes Dissenters Salem, Massachusetts, Puritan Minister Roger Williams insisted that: 1.) the colonist have no rights in taking Native American lands by force. 2.) no one should be forced to attend church. 3.) the Puritans should not impose their religious beliefs on others. 4.) church and state should be kept separate. The Puritans banished Williams. Williams fled south to Rhode Island and established the first Baptist Church.

Rhode Island Welcomes Dissenters cont… Anne Hutchinson, another dissenter believed that many clergy were not the “elect” to serve the salvation of God. 1638 banished from Massachusetts and fled to Rhode Island. Helped establish Exeter, in what is now New Hampshire. Wrote Exeter Compact, similar to Mayflower Compact.

Puritans Persecute Quakers Puritans were intolerant of Quakers, another group of dissenters. Quakers= “tremble [quake] at the word of the Lord.” Quaker believed: 1.) Puritan sermons and ministers were obstacles to the direct experience of God. 2.) Women were spiritually equal to men, and could serve as preachers or missionaries. Quakers were jailed, whipped, and often banished from Puritan society. Often became martyrs, people who chose to die for religious principles.

Creating a New England Many New England settlers came from the densely populated eastern counties of Europe. Established similar towns and villages in the Americas. Most settlers were dissenters, and disagreed with the practices of the Catholic and Angelican churches. Large groups of Puritans, Quakers, Separatists, Baptists and other dissenters. Came from middle ranks of English society, often paying their own way to America.

Democratic Traditions New England colonies established democratic and self government practices. 1.) The Congregational churches of the Puritans were self-governing. 2.) In Massachusetts, Puritan men elected their own governor and legislature. 3.) Voting rights were expanded in Massachusetts and Connecticut. 4.) In the New England countryside, towns controlled their own affairs.