Notes Chapter 3, Section 2

II. The New England Colonies

Puritans thought that the Anglican Church had too much power. They wanted to PURIFY or REFORM the Protestant Church. Hence the name PURITANS

A. Pilgrims and Puritans

a. Pilgrims were an extreme group of Puritans that wanted to SEPARATE from the church. They were called SEPARATISTS.

b. A group of Pilgrims left England and sailed on a ship called the Mayflower in 1620.

1. Pilgrims on the Move

a. While on the ship, the Pilgrims signed the MAYFLOWER COMPACT. They created laws for the common good. This document represents the first attempt at self-government.

b. After arriving in Massachusetts, nearly half of them died in the first winter.

2. The Mayflower Compact

a. Native Americans Samoset and Squanto helped the Pilgrims survive in their new land.

b. They celebrated their harvest with the Indians. This celebration is known as THANKSGIVING.

3. Pilgrims and Native Americans

a. The Pilgrim settlement had more families than the Jamestown settlement. These families had to work together to survive.

4. Pilgrim Community

a. Women had more rights in the colony than they did in England.

b. Women could make contracts, sue, or own property.

5. Women in the Colony

a. Due to an economic crisis in England, the King raised taxes. Many people were not working. The King began punishing people who were against the Church.

b. 1630 a fleet of Puritans left England led by John Winthrop.

c. They formed the Massachusetts Bay Company. 60 years later they took over the Pilgrims’ Plymouth Colony as well.

6. Puritans Leave England/Great Migration/A New Colony

Highly religious, the Puritans were very independent and elected leaders to represent the people.

These leaders were respected members of the church.

People like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson publicly criticized the Church and were thrown out.

This is also the period of the Salem Witch Trials were 19 people were put to death for being accused of being witches.

B. Religion and Government in New England

No need for slave labor in this area because of the harsh, rocky growing conditions.

C. New England Economy

a. Traded local goods such as furs, pickled beef and pork.

b. Fishing: cod and mackerel. Colonist could then export dried fish. Whaling provided much needed oil.

c. Skilled craftsmen were in much demand and apprentices would train until they became journeymen and then eventually masters themselves.

1. Merchants/Fishing/Ship Building/Skilled Craftspeople

a. Learning to read was important to the Puritans because then they could read the bible.

b. Free public schools were formed, one school for every 50 kids.

c. Universities like Harvard and William and Mary were the first to be formed in the new colonies.

D. Education in the Colonies