New England Colonies

New England Economy Not much commercial farming – rocky New England soil New England harbors Fishing/Whaling Whale Oil Shipping/Trade Heavily Forested Lumber Manufacturing First factories Rum Made from Molasses Largest industry in America after 1664  New York, Boston Some estimates had every American drinking 3 gallons/yr. Shipbuilding

New England Colonies Massachusetts Plymouth—1620 Massachusetts Bay Colony—1629 Connecticut Rhode Island New Hampshire

The Great Migration In the 1620’s, England began to experience an economic downturn High unemployment Charles I raises taxes Church of England began to punish Puritans because they were critical of the church. More than 40,000 Englishmen immigrated to the colonies in the Caribbean and New England between 1630 and 1640.

Massachusetts Bay Colony Massachusetts Bay Company granted a charter by Charles I Company Colony – owned by stock- holders All stocks were eventually bought by Puritans and decided to move company to America Led by John Winthrop, over 1000 Puritans sailed to Massachusetts to establish an ideal Christian community in New England. “City on a hill” First land in Salem, then Boston Colony grows and prospers Well prepared for the task Little resistance from Indians Trade with Plymouth Healthier climate than Virginia John Winthrop

Massachusetts Bay Company Charter provided more freedom than royal charter in Virginia Provided that a General Court in Massachusetts would make laws, and elect a governor and other officials Families, and later towns, would send representatives to the General Court Only male church members were eligible to vote This created a Theocracy – government ruled by, or subject to, the church

Salem Witch Trials In the early 1690’s, a group of girls accused people, mostly women, of casting spells on them. Special Courts were formed to conduct witchcraft trials, often marked by hysteria Accused were often pressured to confess Trials led to the execution of 19 people for witchcraft Within a year, officials regretted the trials and apologized for the actions of the Salem Court. Painting by Thomas Slatterwhite Noble

Connecticut Some colonists disagreed with the church’s influence on government Minister Thomas Hooker believed that any property owner should be eligible to vote, regardless of church membership In 1636, Hooker and 100 of his followers were granted permission to leave Massachusetts to create a new settlement - Connecticut Proprietary colony – owned by one or more individuals 1639—Fundamental Orders of Connecticut made the government more democratic Possibly the first written Constitution in the Western World Acknowledges individual rights of man and government’s job to protect them Men who were not church members were allowed to vote General Courts/Assemblies are developing representative government Still part of Connecticut’s Constitution

New Hampshire The English crown granted land to Captain John Mason and others in 1623 Proprietary colony Sent 2 groups of settlers to the new territory to create a fishing colony Little Harbor, Dover Mason died in 1635 before ever arriving in N.H. Made agreement in 1641 to join Massachusetts Bay Colony for protection Became a royal colony in 1679 – under control of the crown

Rhode Island Roger Williams Founded by Puritan minister Roger Williams Disagreed with leaders in Massachusetts Believed in “Soul-Liberty” – people should have right to opinion on religious matters “Wall of Separation” between church and politics Promoted religious tolerance Wanted to deal fairly with Indians Exiled from Massachusetts and settled to the south in Providence in 1644 Given land by Natives Proprietary Colony Anne Hutchinson Challenged church leaders Banished in 1637 and founded Portsmouth in Rhode Island