AIM:

In 1618, the new head of the Virginia Company of London introduced major changes to attract
settlers to Virginia
This engraving is from the first meeting
of the Virginia House of Burgesses in
1619. This legislature (lawmaker) was
made up of representatives chosen by
the people. The new Virginia
government included a governor, 6
councilors, and 20 representatives—2
from each of the colony’s 10 towns.
The representatives were called
burgesses.
1. How did the Virginia House of Burgesses allow its citizens to have a voice in government?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Virginia Company introduced the headright system—new settlers who bought a share in the
joint-stock company or paid for their journey across the Atlantic were granted 50 acres of land
o
They were given 50 more acres for each family member over 15 years old and for each
servant they took with them

The majority of workers in Virginia were indentured servants
William Buckland shall and will, as a faithful Indentured Servant, serve Thomas Mason in the colony of Virginia,
for the period of Five Years, after his Arrival in Virginia in the Employment of a Carpenter and Farmer. Thomas
Mason agrees to pay for the costs and charges of William Buckland’s voyage to Virginia and provide all the
necessaries of life—food, drink, washing, and housing. Upon completing the four-year period, Thomas Mason
agrees to pay William Buckland a suit of clothes, farm tools, and an acre of land as his freedom dues.
1. How long were indentured servants required to work for?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What jobs did indentured servants do? What would they get in return?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What were freedom dues?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why do you think indentured servants agreed to these labor contracts?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. How were indentured servants different from both slaves and serfs?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
A contract in which poor immigrants traded four to seven
years of labor in exchange for passage to the colonies and
food and shelter once they arrived was called
1.
2.
3.
4.
a headright
indentured servitude
slavery
feudalism



After a servant served his or her indenture, an
employer was required to give the servant
1.
2.
3.
4.
freedom dues
free land
a share of the master’s crop
a week’s worth of food and a horse
TURNING POINT: IN 1619 THE FIRST AFRICAN SLAVES ARRIVED IN VIRGINIA
Native Americans became alarmed with the huge wave of English immigrants that came to Virginia
and attacked Jamestown in 1622
o Virginia’s governor, Sir William Berkeley, wanted good relations with Native Americans in
order to protect his fur trade with them

o
Settlers, however, wanted to expand westward into Native American land
Nathanial Bacon, a tobacco planter on the frontier formed a small army and launched a
rebellion after one of his workers was killed by Native AmericansBacon’s Rebellion
Four things could be considered the main ingredients towards the violent outbreak. First, the extreme low price
of tobacco, and the poor condition of farmers. Secondly, the splitting of the colony into proprietaries (land
owned by private individuals) and the extravagant taxes that were charged. Thirdly, the heavy restrictions placed
upon trade by acts of Parliament in England. Fourthly, the disturbance given by the Indians.
What were the causes of Bacon’s Rebellion?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
o
Bacon then attacked Jamestown and took control after Berkeley fled

Rebellion ended when Bacon became ill and died
 EFFECTS: House of Burgesses opened more frontier land to settlers and
landowners began to rely on slave labor, fearing uprisings from indentured
servants
Name:_____________________________________________
Homework #1
In 1524, three years after Cortes conquered the Aztec, King Francis I of France sent Giovanni da Verrazano to
map North America’s coastline. Frances wanted to find the Northwest Passage—the northern route through
North America to the Pacific Ocean. Verrazano mapped the coastline from North Carolina to Newfoundland,
but he found no sign of a passage through the continent. Ten years later, Francis sent another explorer named
Jacques Cartier to North America. On his first two trips, Cartier discovered and mapped the St. Lawrence River.
The French began to fish near North America and the fishing crews often went ashore to trade their goods for
furs from the Native Americans. By 1600, fur—particularly beaver fur—had become very popular in European
fashion. As the demand for fur increased, French merchants became interested in expanding the fur trade. In
1602, King Henry VI of France authorized a group of French merchants to create colonies in North America. In
1605, Samuel de Champlain helped establish a French colony in Canada and in 1608 he founded Quebec, which
became the capital of the colony of New France. The company that founded New France wanted to make
money from the fur trade, and so they did not need settlers to clear the land and build farms. As a result, the
colony grew slowly and most of the fur traders did not even live in the colony. Fur traders lived among the
Native Americans with whom they traded—they learned their languages, customs, and often married Native
American women.
1. What was the Northwest Passage?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who were the two early explorers that France sent to map out North America?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is Samuel de Champlain known for?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What were French merchants interested in finding? How does this differ from what the Spanish and English
hoped to find in the New World?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What were the interactions like between the French and Native Americans?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
AIM:
Do Now: Answer the following multiple choice questions:
1. In 1676, Bacon’s Rebellion erupted as a dispute over
2. What was the first elected legislature in
the thirteen English colonies?
1.
2.
3.
4.
taxation
slavery
Native American policy
the Navigation Act of 1660

While Puritans wanted to “purify” the Anglican Church of all Catholic elements, a more radical
group, known as Separatists, broke away from the Anglican Church to form their own
congregations.
o King James I viewed this action as a challenge to his authority, and he imprisoned
Separatist leaders.
o To escape this punishment, one Separatist group known as the Pilgrims decided form a
joint-stock company and sail to America
o The small ship Mayflower set sail on September 1620 headed by William Bradford
A)
B)
C)
D)
First Continental Congress
House of Burgesses
Stamp Act Congress
Constitutional Convention
Source A:
List of travelers aboard
the Mayflower
1. Based on the source above, how were the travelers on the Mayflower different from those who
went to Jamestown?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________


A severe storm blew the small ship off course but finally in November of 1620 the Pilgrims
sighted Cape Cod
o Using a copy of Captain John Smith’s Map of New England, the Pilgrims decided to
settle in a place called Plymouth
Since they did not have an official charter, the Pilgrims in Plymout decided to established rules
to keep order in the new settlement
o On November 11, 1620, the 41 men signed the Mayflower Compact.
What did the Mayflower Compact establish?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
What were the reasons for creating the Mayflower Compact?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?
A) It planted the idea of self-government and majority
rule in America.
B) It mapped the directions on how to find the new
colony.
C) It established the basis of religion in the New World.
D) It secured the friendship between the Pilgrims and the
Native Americans.
Before we came into harbor, having observed
some people who were not used to unity and
showed signs of wanting division, it was
thought that there should be an association
and agreement that we should combine
together in one body, and to submit to such
government and governors by common
consent agree to make and choose, and set
our hands to this that follows word for
word…
Having come for the Glory of God, and
Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the
honor of our King and Country, we combine
ourselves together into a civil body of politic,
in order to create order and stability and
further our success…We hereby enact such just
and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions,
and offices for the general good of the colony
unto which we promise all obedience.

The Pilgrims went to work as soon as they arrived at Plymouth, yet by the spring of 1621, about
half the group had died of hunger, cold, or illness
o The rest survived with the help of local Native Americans, particularly a man named
Squanto who showed them how to plant corn, fish, and obtain other goods
 Bradford was chosen as governor of the Plymouth colony the following year

Faced with increased persecution from the new king more Puritans began to leave England
o Puritan merchants formed the joint-stock Massachusetts Bay Company and got a charter
to create a colony in New England
o In March 1630, a wealthy attorney named John Winthrop took charge of a fleet of 11
ships carrying about 900 people to settle the Massachusetts Bay Colony
God Almighty in his most holy wisdom has
decided, [that] in all times some must be rich, some
poor, some high in power and dignity, others
mean and in enslavement. . . . [Yet] we must be
knit together in this work as one man. We must
help each other in brotherly affection, we must be
willing to limit ourselves of our luxuries, for the
supply of others' necessities. We must uphold a
familiar relationship together in all modesty,
gentleness, patience, and liberality. We must
delight in each other, make others' conditions our
own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and
suffer together, always having before our eyes our
community in the work, our community as
members of the same body. So shall we keep the
unity of the spirit in the bond of peace…We must
consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The
eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall
fail our God in this work we have undertaken, and
cause him to withdraw his present help from us,
we shall be made a story through entire world. We
shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of
the ways of God . . . shall shame the faces of many
of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers
to be turned into curses upon us.
1. How did John Winthrop believe people should
behave in the Massachusetts Bay colony?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. What did John Winthrop mean by his “city upon a hill” statement?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

As conditions in England grew worse in England, many people began to leave the country in
what was later called the Great Migration. By 1643, an estimated 20,000 settlers had arrived in
New England.
o The charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company stated that all people who owned stock
in the company (known as freemen) would form the General Court and were
responsible for making the laws and electing a governor
o John Winthrop was chosen to be the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony
 Winthrop ignored the charter and told the settlers that only the governor could
make laws for the colony
 He believed the government should help the church and made laws that required
people to attend church services
 The government collected taxes to support the church and regulated people’s
behavior
 Tried to prevent religious ideas that differed from Puritan beliefs
AIM:
Do Now: Answer the multiple choice questions below:
What colony did the “Separatists” establish in
order to escape religious persecution?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Roanoke
Massachusetts Bay
Plymouth
Virginia
The New England Colonies were settled
mainly by people who
A)
B)
C)
D)
were wealthy English landowners
sought freedom of religion
were debtors
were from countries other than
Britain
Life in New England centered around the town
o Puritans believed God had entered into a covenant, or contract with human beings that
enabled them to earn a spot in heaven
 They also believed that groups of Christians should come together to form church
covenants—voluntary agreements to worship together
 Instead of granting lands to individuals, the general courts in New England
granted land to groups of people
o People met in town meetings to elect representatives, set taxes, and deal with local
problems
 Although anyone in the town could attend a meeting, voting was limited to men
who owned land
o Puritan houses were located close to the church so that they could easily attend all of
the masses, sermons, and religious lectures
 Since Puritan law was heavily tied to the church, there was a strict code of
behavior that people had to follow
 Severe punishments were inflicted to those who broke these laws
o The General Court also passed laws requiring children to go to school
 Puritans wanted their children to read well enough to understand the Bible
 The earliest colleges were started in New England (Harvard and Yale)
When I was a little boy, being educated under godly parents, my conscience was very [capable] of telling me of
evils that I should not do. When I was about eight years old, I was tempted much to play and to run out
without my father’s permission. One day, having gone out [for] most part of the day, when my father saw me
come home he took me and [beat] me. I then stayed home and was well behaved for two or three days. My
father and mother praised me, and told me that God would bless me if I obeyed my parents, and what would
happen if I did not. I knew in my heart that my father would beat me more when I did [wrong]. I feared, if he
did not, I should not be good.
-quote from a Puritan living in New England
1. What was life like for Puritan children?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Religious Dissent
The leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony tried to prevent religious ideas that were different from Puritan
beliefs. If settlers publicly challenged Puritan ideas, they could be charged with heresy and banished from the
colony. Heretics—people whose religious beliefs differ from those accepted by the majority—were considered a
threat to the community.
Think back to one of the original reasons why the Puritans left England. Are their actions hypocritical? Why?
Roger Williams
1. Why was Roger Williams banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What was the name of the colony that Roger Williams established? Where was it located?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How did life in Williams’ colony differ from the Massachusetts Bay colony?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Anne Hutchinson
1. Why was Anne Hutchinson charged with heresy?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Where did Anne Hutchinson go after she was banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How was Anne Hutchinson killed?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Thomas Hooker
1. What colony did Thomas Hooker start? How was the government different than in Massachusetts Bay?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What was the name of the colony’s constitution? What were two responsibilities of the General Court?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which Native American tribe did the Connecticut settlers go to war with?
Roger Williams
Puritan leaders who did not conform were subject to banishment from the
Massachusetts Bay Colony. Roger Williams, a radical Separatist minister from Salem, did
not approve of the way the early Americans took land from the Indians. He especially
disagreed with the rampant religious intolerance and that the government should be
completely separated from the church.
When Williams became openly critical of the Puritan leaders in 1636, the General Court ordered him to leave.
Although he eventually received permission to remain until spring, Williams continued to speak out against the
leaders of the Colony. Finally, the magistrates had enough. They resolved to send him back to England, but
Williams fled before the officers could carry out the order. He had to leave in the midst of a terrible winter.
Fortunately for Williams, he was warmly received by Canonicus and Miantonomi. These Narragansett Indian
chiefs gave Williams the land he needed for his new Colony. Roger Williams recognized the help of the Indians
when he wrote:
“...were it not for Canonicus...Rhode Island would not be.”
He published a book to help others understand how to speak with the Narragansett in their own language.
He called his settlement Providence because of the "Providences of the Most Holy and Only Wise God" in
whom Williams trusted. His settlement was based on total democracy and became a safe location for others
who were banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In his new colony, located in present day Rhode
Island, churches were not supported by taxes, there was no requirement to attend church services, and there
were no religious qualifications to vote.
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was a midwife turned preacher, who was unafraid of the Colony's stern, male leaders. In
1638, Hutchinson was charged with heresy. Even though she was married to one of Boston's leading citizens, her
charisma and learning was a threat to the Puritan leaders.
Hutchinson questioned the authority of the Puritan leaders. Worse, she had become so popular that she was
attracting men, not just women, to the meetings she held in her Boston home. As an outspoken woman in a
narrow-minded, male-dominated society, it was inevitable that Hutchinson would be charged with a crime.
Puritan society put great emphasis on appearances. "Good works" were extremely important in Puritan religion.
Anne Hutchinson believed people were saved by faith, not by “good works.” She was vocal about her beliefs,
which were contrary to what Puritan ministers preached. She also claimed that God spoke directly to her, which
contradicted the Puritan belief that God only spoke through the Bible. In 1637, the General Court called
Hutchinson before them to answer to charges of heresy. At her trial, Governor John Winthrop was her chief
accuser.
At the end of the trial, Winthrop read the verdict:
“Mrs. Hutchinson, the sentence of the court you hear is that you are banished from out of our jurisdiction as
being a woman not fit for our society, and are to be imprisoned till the court shall send you away”
After she and her entire family were banished, they went to Roger Williams' settlement near Providence. After a
time, they moved to an area eventually called "Annie's Hoeck" - in the "New Netherland" colony - where, in
1643, she and six of her children were massacred by Indians. Anne Hutchinson’s brother-in-law, left
Massachusetts in 1639 to start a settlement in what is now New Hampshire. In 1679, New Hampshire became a
royal colony, under direct control of the king.
Thomas Hooker
In 1636, the Reverend Thomas Hooker asked the General court of
Massachusetts for permission to move his entire congregation to
the Connecticut River Valley because they did not have enough
land near their town to raise cattle. Hooker was frustrated by the
Massachusetts political system and thought that everyone should
be allowed to vote, not just church members.
“in matters which concern the common good, a government
chosen by all [is best]. The foundation of authority is laid in the
consent of the governed [and] the choice of the magistrate
belongs to the people”
The General Court allowed Hooker and his congregation to migrate. A few months later, some 100
settlers headed to the Connecticut River and founded the town of Hartford. Hooker’s congregation
was not alone in this area, as trading posts had been established in the region in 1633, and two other
congregations had founded the towns of Windsor and Wethersfield in 1634. In 1637, the towns
joined together to create their own General Court, and two years later they adopted a constitution
known as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut—the first written constitution of the American
colonies. Their government was similar to that of Massachusetts, but it had one major exception: it
allowed all adult men, not just church members, to elect the governor of the General Court.
Excerpt from the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut:
4. It is ordered…that no person be chosen governor above once in two years, and that the governor
be always a member of some approved congregation…
10. It is ordered…that every General Court…shall consist the supreme power of the Commonwealth,
and they only shall have power to make laws or repeal them, to grant levies (taxes), to admit of
freemen, dispose of lands undisposed of to several towns or person, and also shall have power to call
either Court or magistrate or any other person whatsoever into question for any misdemeanor…
East of the Connecticut River lived the Pequot people, who considered the valley part of their
territory. At first the Pequots tolerated the English settlers because they needed allies against the
Narraganset in Rhode Island. In 1636, however, two Massachusetts traders were killed in Pequot
territory. When Massachusetts sent troops to retaliate, the Pequot War erupted. The Narraganset,
bitter rivals of the Pequot, also joined in the attack. English troops and their allies set fire to the main
Pequot fort near Mystic Harbor, Connecticut, and when the Pequot tried to surrender, the troops
opened fire, killing about 400 people, including women and children. The Connecticut General Court
then put a bounty on the surviving Pequot, leading to the capture and enslavement of many more
Pequots.