4.3 The New England Colonies

Essential Question

• How did religion influence the New England colonies?

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.  

o 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.

 o Great Migration- Mass Migration of thousands of English people to the

Americas that took place between 1630 and 1640.

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

Massachusettso They hoped to have freedom to practice their religion freely.

The colony’s governor was John Winthrop.o Winthrop believed that their community should be the focus of the Puritan

colony.

o He said that “We shall be like a city upon a hill ; the eyes of all people are

on us”

John Winthrop

• 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.o They brought large #s of tools and livestock

o They also traded with Plymouth

o Unlike the Virginia colony, they had a healthy climate. Because of these factors, few Puritans died from sickness.

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.o This court was a form of government that served the needs

of its people.

o 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

Politics and religion were closely linked in

Puritan New England.

Government leaders were also church

members.oMinisters had a great power in Puritan

communities

Male church members were the only

colonists who could vote.

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:o Skilled workers

o Farmers

o Fisherman/Fur Traders

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 groupso Children would help to run the family farm

o Parents also sometimes helped choose their children’s

husband/wife

Expectations Puritan women had three main duties

o Obey husband

o Have children

o Run the household

Puritan men were expected to treat their wives with

kindness and respect. Education was important part of New England society

o Parents wanted their children to be able to read the Bible

o 1636 John Harvard founded Harvard College

o More people in New England could read and write than in Virginia