NEW ENGLAND

1. NEW ENGLAND By Madison, Sarah, Emma and Anndean ~Chapter 3; Section 2

2. The Beginning~ • In the 1600’s, the Church of England was head of state • A group of people known as, "Separatists”, did not believe in the church and wanted to separate from it • The Separatists wanted to form their own church with different religious beliefs • Because of this, they were threatened with death for defying the church (authority) • They set sail from Scrooby, England for Holland in 1608 • Holland was known to offer the freedom to practice any religion

3. A Second Attempt~ • Once in Holland, the Separatists were unhappy that they would have to conform to Dutch society; this combined with the fact that they experienced discrimination in the job market lead them to seek out a new home • After this failed attempt of re-settling, the Separatists tried again, deciding that this time they would move to Virginia • The Pilgrims were quite poor and were not capable of coming up with the money needed to make this long journey so... they rallied financial support from fellow Separatists • In return for financing the Separatist’s journey, the financers received a share of the profits made in America

4. The Journey~ • So, the Separatists sailed back to Plymouth, England; where their new journey began • July of 1620, the Separatists were granted permission by the King to settle in Virginia • They booked two ships for the journey, “Speedwell” and “Mayflower” • The ship “Speedwell” was in poor condition and was not used in the voyage to Virginia, the 102 passengers crammed onto “ Mayflower” and set sail for their new life Mayflower Speedwell

5. A New Life~ • On November 11th, 1620, land was spotted but, it was not the Separatist’s intended destination of Virginia, instead, they ended up on coast of Massachusetts • November 11th is also the same day that the Mayflower Compact was made and signed on the ship “Mayflower”; because the Separatists did not reach their intended destination, they did not have a patent for the land; they therefore considered themselves an independent government and drew up the compact • The Mayflower compact expressed that the government is in power because of the people it governs (considered to be first democratic constitution in U.S.A)

6. A New Life~ [cont’d] • After spotting land, a ‘scouting party’ was sent out to find suitable land • They travelled around the coast and eventually, on December 11th, 1620, the Pilgrims found land that suited needs: fertile land, clean water and accessibility to the coast • December 16th, 1620, Pilgrims began building a new life; named their colony, “Plymouth” after the port they descended from in England

7. The End of A Long Journey~ • The first winter was quite difficult for the Pilgrims because of 2 major factors: • They were not accustomed to North America’s weather conditions • They did not know how to live off the land; because of this, about half of the settlers died • However after this difficult start, the Pilgrims learned quickly and were able to thrive in their new land • Around 1630, more settlers came and as a result of the increasing numbers in the Plymouth area, the colony later became apart of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

8. The First Thanksgiving~ • Took place in 1621 as a result of a good harvest • It is believed that the first Thanksgiving derived from England’s traditions of giving thanks • The celebration included the Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe and lasted for a total of 3 days • The feast consisted of sea food, various types of meat(deer, wild turkey, duck) and local fruit and vegetables

9. Facts About Thanksgiving~ Did you know? * Thanksgiving wasn’t a consistent holiday until President Lincoln made it so in 1863; because of the civil war, he wanted to have a day of unity and patriotism, the date was set for the last Thursday of November * President Franklin Roosevelt decided to change the date of the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November; to allow a greater time period between the holiday and Christmas

10. Massachusetts Bay Company & the Charter~ • 1625 – Charles I became the king of England • Wanted to suppress Puritanism • 1629 – Puritans secured charter from king • Allowed them to settle along the Massachusetts Bay

11. Great Migration~ • 1630-1640 – Great Migration • Over 20 000 Puritans migrated to the New World • Many who migrated were families • Came as congregations

12. Puritan Religion in the New World~ • Were a Christian society • Wanted to create a “nation of saints” • Would not accept any other religion

13. Government & Churches~ • Charter did not require the seat of government to stay in England • It became the constitution of the colony • Massachusetts was ruled by: • Governor • Deputy • A number of assistants • Churches were organized under ministers

14. From England to Massachusetts~ • Unlike others, Massachusetts Bay Charter of head quarters or where shareholders meeting were • Taking advantage, shareholders voted to move from New England to Massachusetts • Governor John Winthrop carried charter across Atlantic ocean, where shareholders would have freedom from kings control

15. Transformation~ • Winthrop transformed from a trading company to commonwealth • First of its kind in America • At the start, few shareholders of company, called “freeman”, held all power in colony • Under governor Winthrop, shareholders made up the general court

16. Passing the Law~ • Soon more than 100 colonists demanded to be admitted to company as freemen • Under pressure, governor consented demands • In 1631, a law passed. Gave all puritan men who were church members admission to general court as freemen • When population grew to large, they made a change

17. Continuing~ • Company allowed freemen in each town to elect 2 representative to General Court • What began with as directors meeting of trading company ended as colonial legislative with power to make law

18. Introduction~ • The Puritans did not want to pass on the right of worshiping to people of other religions • Most of the Puritans had little tolerance for the religious beliefs of others

19. Roger Williams~ • He believed that the Puritans should not force their religion on others and that everyone should be allowed to worship as they wanted • The church and state should work separately • He began to gain followers for what he believed in • He was soon discovered and banished in 1635 by Governor John Winthrop because he was seen as a threat to the Puritan community • He fled from the colony of Massachusetts

20. He lived with an Algonquin Native American called the Narragansett • Many of the followers he had back in Massachusetts joined him there • Since he had so many followers, he decided to make an agreement with the tribe and buy their land so they could make a new colony that would uniquely allow any religion to be worshipped • This colony became Rhode Island, chartered in 1636 • Rhode Island was the first ever colony that made the church and the state completely separate

21. Anne Hutchinson~ • She began to question the Puritan’s interpretation of the Bible • Just as Roger Williams, she believed in the freedom of religious belief • Hutchinson gained followers through a women’s group she had • The Puritan officials heard what she had been doing • She was sent to trial and was later banished • She, her husband, children and followers went a settled in Rhode Island with Roger Williams

22. Reverend John Wheelwright~ • Just as Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, he also believed in freedom of religion • He wanted to break free from the Puritan's controlling State • He began to spread his beliefs • Puritan’s discovered what he was doing and banished him • He and his followers settled in New Hampshire and chartered it in 1623 as a new colony

23. Thomas Hooker~ • Disagreed with the policy of allowing only male church members to vote • The followers that wanted more freedom went with Hooker to valley of the Connecticut River • This led to many more “River Towns” to be created

24. This then lead to a new colony called Connecticut • In 1639, The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was created • It was set up just like Massachusetts Colony except that voting rights and government was not only limited to church members