New England Colonies

Massachusetts Separatists wanted to SEPARATE…to leave the Church and set up their own. Called themselves pilgrims b/c their journey was for religious reason Puritans – wanted to reform the Angilican Church (think to PURIFY)

Mass. Cont’d The Separatists make the pilgrimage on the Mayflower landed in Plymouth, Mass. 1620 Wrote Mayflower Compact – set of laws for the colonists to live by Received help from Nat. Amer. In farming, hunting, fishing – Squanto and Samoset They could practice religion freely if in return they would give V. Company a share of their profits.

Massachusetts 1630 – Puritans form the Massachusetts Bay Company They received charter to est. colony north of Plymouth Wanted society based on the Bible and PURITAN BELIEFS John Winthrope – colony’s governor Settled and called it Boston Great Migration – 1630s lots of Puritans went to Mass. Bay for religious freedom

Connecticut Thomas Hooker – unhappy in Mass. Founded Hartford (CT) 1635 Better soil for farming than Mass. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut – 1st written constitution in America

Rhode Island Settled by those forced out of Mass. Founded by Roger Williams (minister) 1636 Granted land by Nat. Amer. – who had taken him in after being banished from Mass. * Believed in religious tolerance! Government should not force people to worship in a certain way

New Hampshire John Wheelwright 1638 – followed in Roger Williams footsteps Led a group of dissenters from Mass. to the north. founded town of Exeter Became indep. Colony in 1679