Massachusetts

• Founded by Puritans

• John Winthrop – first governor

• All male church members could vote

• Elected General Court

• Great Migration – 1629-1640 – 15,000 settlers

• Many settled in Boston

Plymouth Rock

Connecticut

• Founded 1636 by Thomas Hooker

• Led 100 settlers west to Connecticut River

• Built a town - Hartford

• Wanted a colony with strict limits on government

• 1639 – wrote Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

• two important differences from Massachusetts• gave vote to all men who owned property• limited governor’s power• expanded idea of representative government• 1662 – received a charter from the king of England as a separate colony

Rhode Island

• Founded by Roger Williams• Believed Puritan Church had too much power• Believed in religious toleration• Expelled by General Court• Fled to Narragansett Bay• Became colony of Rhode Island• Freedom of religion and vote for all white men

Life in New England

• Land of small towns and villages

• Each town had a common, an open field where cattle grazed

• Each town had a Meetinghouse for worship and town meetings.

Religion and Family

• Sabbath was holy day of rest

• No games or socializing

• Attended all-day church services

• Men sat on one side and women on the other

• Children were a blessing of God

• Seven or eight in average family

• Healthy climate led to long lives

• Children grew up knowing parents and grandparents

Government

• Town meetings gave New Englanders a chance to give their opinions.

• Puritan laws were strict.

• 15 crimes were punishable by death.

• One was witchcraft.

• In 1692, Puritans in Salem Village executed 20 men and women as witches.

Economy

• Rocky soil was poor for farming, but grew Native American crops.

• Forests held lots of game.• Forests also provided maple sugar and

lumber.• Shipbuilding became a major industry.• Fishing was a major industry also.• In 1700’s whaling grew into a big business.