New England Colonies

1. New England Colonies 1620 - 1700

2. Themes • Motivations for traveling; religion was important • Early histories and life in Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony • New England society • Interaction between Native Americans and colonists in New England

3. Major Religions in Europe (1560) • In 1530s King Henry VIII of England established Anglican Church (Church of England)

4. Religion in England (Puritans) • Puritans’ Goals: • Purify the Church of England to eliminate corrupting Catholic influences • Membership should be limited only to an elect view who had undergone a conversion experience

5. Religion in England (Pilgrims) • Pilgrims’ Goals: • Agree with goals of Puritans, but were radicals • Believed they must separate from the Anglican church in order to practice their religious beliefs.

6. Pilgrims in England • Being to radical, Queen Elizabeth exiled the Pilgrims • Some went to Germany, Netherlands, and France before returning to England in 1615

7. Destination: Plymouth? • In 1614, Plymouth Company hired John Smith to give them a start • Smith travels up and down the coast and writes, “A description of New England” • Encourages people to settle there

8. Pilgrims Take Action • Negotiated with Plymouth Company to establish a settlement north of Virginia • Mayflower sets sail in October 1620 • Lands at Plymouth Plantation in December 1620 • It had been a site of a former Indian tribe which had been abandoned because of disease • Signed the Mayflower Compact - When we establish a colony, it will be governed by the rule of law and not the individual

9. Colonizing New England (1620 – 1691)

10. Mayflower Compact • Signed by all men on the Mayflower: • Declared their support for King James • Created a government to establish rules for the colony • Local government • Step towards self government in North America

11. Plymouth • Late 1620 comes a harsh winter • The Pilgrims are beginning to find out that little grows on their land • Food supply begins to run low; first three months over half the Pilgrims die • Between winter and spring the Pilgrims realize there are others settled here as well

12. Pokanoket Tribe • They do not want any enemies • They begin to teach the settlers how to plant crops in the soil by using fish oil as fertilizer • All the Pokanoket ask in return is help against a rival tribe • Pilgrims can provide guns • August 1621: Both launch an attack against the rival tribe

13. Plymouth • Included 24 families and 102 settlers • William Bradford was elected Governor 30 times • Two local Indians helped • In 1621 they celebrated following their first harvest; Thanksgiving • Remained very small, but important settlement in New England

14. Early Interaction with Native Americans • Squanto – acted as interpreter because he was captured by fisherman and taken to Europe, helped them plant corn and squash, and negotiate an agreement with Massasoit • Massasoit – Wampanoag leader, signed a treaty of friendship with the Pilgrims

15. Plymouth Economy • Puritans could not turn to farming • Farming does not make profit, can’t grow tobacco • The Puritans at Plymouth will turn to fishing and whaling and ships/lumber, furs • By 1630, thriving Puritan colonies in Massachusetts • This economic boom draws other Puritans from England

16. Decline in Real Wages in England(1500 – 1700) • Living standards declined along with wages • Population increased and land became more scarce

17. English Migration (1610 – 1660) • Persecution in England by King Charles I in 1625 led to dramatic increase in settlement • By 1700 New England’s population was about 93,000

18. Puritan Diaspora (1630s – 1640s) • Puritans begin to expand in Mass - Rhode Island, Connecticut, Salem, Boston • Boston- Major shipping business city. Transforms Boston’s harbor to one of the world’s most massive ports

19. Colonizing New England(1620 – 1674)

20. Colonizing New England(1620 – 1674) • Most important settlement was Boston by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 • Settlers here were given a charter to establish a self governing colony • About 700 arrived in 1630 in about 11 ships

21. Massachusetts Bay Colony • John Winthrop – one influential leader • Advocated the Puritans to establish a “city upon a hill” after his sermon entitled “A Model of Christian Charity” • Served as Governor and held additional leadership positions

22. “A Model of Christian Charity” Outlined the Goals of Puritan Settlers • Establish a religious utopia dedicated to the teachings of Christianity • To be successful, ALL would have to work together • If they succeeded, they would be a model for others; but if they failed, they would be shame to themselves and to God • Philosophy of: “Do whatever it takes”

23. Church and State in New England • No separation of church and state • Taxes funded ministers’ salaries and churches “Blue Laws:” - Required church attendance; also prohibited drunkenness, card playing, public kissing, etc.

24. New England Wealth • 1620 – 1650 New England becomes the wealthiest region of the English colonies. How? • Predestination- leads Puritans to question salvation. Led them to believe in “Good Works” - every moment that you are awake do what is necessary - don’t waste money and buy expensive things be humble and save money • Puritans save money to provide for community and future generations

25. New England Wealth • Puritan Work Ethic - Treat your job as if it were your family - A system that everyone has to abide to • Leads to modern day Capitalism

26. Dissenters(Roger Williams) • Minister who called for separation of church and state • Declared the colony had no legal right to own land because they have no purchased it from the Native Americans • Banished in 1635; moved to “Providence” and began his own colony • Purchased the land from Native Americans inhabiting the area and received a charter from England to begin a settlement • Rhode Island practiced the first religious toleration in America

27. Colonizing New England (1620 – 1674)

28. Dissenter (Anne Hutchinson) • A mother of 14 children • Arrived in Mass in 1634 and began preaching in her home • It very uncommon for women to hold any prayer meetings or be the head of a religious group at that time • Challenged the authority of ministers and was placed on trial • Declared she had received revelations from God • New England’s Puritans believed Hutchinson’s statements to be heresy.

29. Anne Hutchinson and Gender • One critic commented, “You have stepped out of your place; you [would] have rather been a husband than a wife, a preacher than a hearer; and a magistrate than a subject.”

30. Dissenters: Williams and Hutchinson • Many of New England’s residents relocated to practice their religion freely • That was however not the case • If people were not of Puritan faith, they were persecuted or banished • The people that were persecuted went on to establish colonies of their own to practice their own religion

31. Native Americans (Pequot War, 1636 – 1637) • Tension developed between Pequots and colonists as the English expanded into Connecticut • Pequots, who were dominant in the fur trade, were being threatened by English expansion • Colonists from Massachusetts and Connecticut attacked the Pequot Village in Mystic • About 400 Pequots died as the village was burned • Ended Pequot resistance to English expansion

32. Colonizing New England (1620 – 1674)

33. Native Americans in Colonies • Indian populations drop dramatically - From about 125,000 in 1600 to 10,000 in 1675 • English settlement continued to expand • Wild animals were replaced by domesticated animals • Another conflict emerged by 1670s

34. Native Americans (King Phillip’s War, 1675 – 1676) • Metacom known as King Phillip • Son of Massasoit (an ally of the Pilgrims) • Attempted to form an Indian alliance against English • Over 50 towns in English settlements were attacked and burned

35. Native Americans (King Phillip’s War, 1675 – 1678) • English retaliated by destroying stores of food and burned down villages • English formed alliances with other Indians tribes (Mohawks) • Metacom was killed and Indians were defeated • Effectively ended Indian resistance in New England which meant expansion without resistance • Indian women and children were sold into slavery

36. King Phillip’s War (Aftermath; 1678-1690) • Crisis of religion in Puritan society • Won the war; God is on our side • We must be ever vigilant for evil in our community • Look out for the devil in our homes and towns • Puritans now fearful of everything that is odd

37. Salem, Massachusetts • Located in the northern region of New England Colony • By 1690, 2nd largest port in the region • The area of Salem was made up of two settlements • Salem Village and Salem Town • Salem Town being the more wealthy – port and farm land

38. Colonizing New England (1620 – 1674)

39. The Geography of Witchcraft: Salem Village, 1692

40. Witchcraft: Background • Similar to most Europeans, Colonists believed in wizards and witchery • Before 1690s there had been some witchcraft accusations but none of importance • Witchcraft hysteria grew in Salem (1692)

41. Salem Witch Trials (1692) • In April, several girls began to act strangely • All trails led to Tituba, an African slave, and two others were accused of witchcraft; accusations began to grow • Over 300 were accused of witchcraft and 20 were executed • 2 dogs were executed

42. Salem Witch Trials (1692) • If accused – 1. accusation atomically meant guilty verdict 2. Guilty verdict meant execution 3. To avoid execution, a confession was needed

43. Salem Witch Trials (How could this happen?) • If one was to look at the map of Salem most accusations took place in Salem Village • Social Class/Income – Accusers tended to be from Salem Village; a poorer region • Puritan’s goal was to be “A City Upon a Hill” - Dissenters had previously been dealt with harshly - Witches interfered with success of Puritans

44. Goals of Puritan Settlers • Establish a religious utopia dedicated to the teachings of Christianity • To be successful, ALL would have to work together • If they succeeded, they would be a model for the colonies. If they failed they would bring shame to themselves and to God

45. Review • Religion was an important factor for settlement in New England colonies • Puritan’s Goals: City Upon a Hill (model for others) • Native Americans continued to resist expansion in the New England area until King Phillip’s War