The New England Colonies The Great Migration • During 1620’s & 1630’s economic problems in England left many people unemployed. • King raised taxes and disbanded legislature • William Laud, head of Church of England , called the Puritans dissenters and wouldn’t allow them to hold important positions • Between 1629 & 1640 80,000 men, women, and children left England • About 40,000 left for the Americas The Massachusetts Bay Colony • King Charles I gave the Puritans a charter to set up a Royal colony in New England • Governor John Winthrop was their leader. • They made a covenant-a sacred agreement- with God to build an ideal Christian community. • The Puritans were well prepared and began trading with the Pilgrims. • Massachusetts had a healthy climate and few died from disease The New England Way • The charter gave the Puritans the right to govern the colony but they also had to obey English law. • They set up a court system were politics were closely linked with religion • White, male church members were only allowed to vote. • Focus of New England politics was the town meeting; settling issues of local intrest. Daily Life and Customs • Life centered around religion, family and public duties. • Church was every Sunday and lasted most of the day. • In Virginia people we either wealthy or poor; in New England they were in between. • focused on growing food rather than tobacco, and they had a variety of food. • Had large families to help with the chores and farming • Men were the head of the family, women to serve their husbands and manage the household. • Massachusetts passed the first law regulating education • children needed to learn read and understand the Bible. • Harvard first college in America to train ministers Dissent in Massachusetts • Thomas Hooker and followers left Massachusetts for religious reasons and founded Connecticut • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut set up their colonial government • Roger Williams was forced out of Massachusetts, he wanted to separate church and politics, founded Rhode Island. • Anne Hutchinson also led a group to Rhode Island Salem Witch Trials • Many Americans had brought a belief of witches with them from England. • A girl had suffered from fits after a slave, Tituba, was telling some of the girls fortunes • Other girls started to fake fits and accusing people of being witches • This caused mass chaos and took a while for the leaders of New England to finally stop the lies and apologize • over 100 people were accused and 19 were hung