new england colonies

NEW ENGLAND COLONIES

Plymouth Colony• Puritans in England wanted to purify

the Church of England.

• They wanted to escape religious persecution (punishment).

Plymouth Colony

• The ship Mayflower brought separatists who were also called Pilgrims

• Landed far north of Virginia

• Mayflower Compact- Signed by male passengers. Formed a government based on Self Government.

• There would be majority rule and one vote each.

Plymouth Colony• Life in Plymouth was very hard.

• Over ½ died in two months.

• Colony helped by the Indians.

• Led to the first Thanksgiving in October of 1621.

Massachusetts Bay Colony• Founded by John Winthrop.

• Would not tolerate dissenters (people who went against them).

Rhode Island• Founded by Roger Williams.

• He called for religious toleration in Massachusetts and was banished (kicked out) from the colony.

• Anne Hutchinson was sent to Rhode Island because she practiced her own beliefs.

Connecticut• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut-

First written constitution in the colonies.

• Made the colonies more democratic.

New England Economy• Because of its cold climate, poor and rocky

soil, New England relied on trade, industry, ship building, and fishing.

Self Government in New England

• Town hall meetings gave citizens an opportunity to participate in the decision making process.

• Anyone could speak but only men could vote.

• By 1750, each colony had its own assembly which passed laws.

• These assemblies were the start of the representative form of government found in the United States.