1. 4.3 The New England Colonies

2. Essential Question
How did religion influence the New England colonies?

3. Massachusetts Bay Colony
In 1620, England became having economic problems, which led to an increase in taxes.
The Church of England also began punishing Puritan dissenters.
Dissenters: People who disagree with official opinions
Charles I refused to allow Puritans to criticize church actions
These economic, political, and religious problems led to the Great Migration.
Great Migration- Mass Migration of thousands of English people to the Americas that took place between 1630 and 1640.

4. They formed the Massachusetts Bay Company.
Charles I granted a group of Puritans a charter to establish a colony in the area known as New England.
They formed the Massachusetts Bay Company.
In 1630, a fleet of ships carrying Puritan colonists left England for Massachusetts
They hoped to have freedom to practice their religion freely.
The colony’s governor was John Winthrop.
Winthrop believed that their community should be the focus of the Puritan colony.
He said that “We shall be like a city upon a hill ; the eyes of all people are on us”

5. John Winthrop

6. Covenant: sacred agreement
The Puritans believed that they had made a covenant with God, and they agreed to build an ideal Christian community.
The Puritans were well prepared for their colony in New England.
They brought large #s of tools and livestock
They also traded with Plymouth
Unlike the Virginia colony, they had a healthy climate.
Because of these factors, few Puritans died from sickness.

7. Church and State in New England
Massachusetts was subject to English laws, like Virginia, but they were allowed more independence.
The company charter created a General court to help run the colony.
This court was a form of government that served the needs of its people.
This court elected the governor and his assistants
It eventually became a two-house legislature.
Two groups; each decision needed a majority to pass in the house

8. Politics and religion were closely linked in Puritan New England.
Government leaders were also church members.
Ministers had a great power in Puritan communities
Male church members were the only colonists who could vote.

9. Daily Life and Customs
New England colonists’ lives centered around religion, family duties, and public work
Puritan religion shaped everyday life in colonial England
Colonists were more middle class than the rich or poor colonists in Virginia.
Jobs included:
Skilled workers
Farmers
Fisherman/Fur Traders

10. Daily Life
Farmers grew food for their own use, instead of for sale as in Virginia
Virginia farms required slaves or servants, while New England farms were smaller and were run by families
Most colonists came in family groups
Children would help to run the family farm
Parents also sometimes helped choose their children’s husband/wife

11. Expectations Puritan women had three main duties
Obey husband
Have children
Run the household
Puritan men were expected to treat their wives with kindness and respect.
Education was important part of New England society
Parents wanted their children to be able to read the Bible
1636 John Harvard founded Harvard College
More people in New England could read and write than in Virginia