New England

UNIT 2: Colonization

Lesson: Rebel Colonies In NEw ENgland

Tennessee State Standards:

8.03 Explain the founding and development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, including the significance of: Anne Hutchinson, role of theocracy, the Salem Witch Trials, and Town Meetings.

8.04 Explain the motivation for and the founding of the Rhode Island and Connecticut Colonies, including the roles of Roger Williams and Thomas Hooker.

REBEL COLONIES IN NEW ENGLAND

The Puritans came to America and founded the Massachusetts Colony because they wanted religious freedom from England. But the Puritans soon began acting just like the England, punishing anyone who disagreed with their religious views. Before long, there wasn't much freedom of religion in Massachusetts because everyone was forced to be a Puritan.

Disagreements with Puritan leaders and Anti-Puritan leaders in the Massachusetts Colony led to trouble. Some people began challenging the Puritans and the whole Puritan way of life. These "Anti-Puritan" views were seen as dangerous to the Puritans. As a result, the Puritans banished them from Massachusetts.

ROGER WILLIAMS & RHODE ISLAND

Roger Williams came to Massachusetts in 1631. Like other Puritans, he fled England and moved to America because he wanted freedom of religion to worship the way he saw fit.

When Roger Williams arrived in Massachusetts, he began preaching the concept of "separation of church and state." This upset the Puritan leaders, but Williams wanted more religious freedom and less governing from the church. The Puritans thought that Roger Williams ideas were too extreme and the Puritan leaders banished him from Massachusetts. To banish someone is to send them away from a country or place as an official punishment.

When he left the Massachusetts Colony, Williams traveled south and founded a settlement called "Providence Plantation." The settlement grew to become the town of Providence and eventually it became the capital of the new Rhode Island Colony. Williams made sure that the church and government were separate in this new colony. Churches could not make laws, and the government could not tell people how to worship. This new colony was a special place where people seeking religious freedom and toleration could coexist.

ANNE HUTCHINSON

Anne Hutchinson also disagreed with Puritan leaders. Her ideas gained support in the Massachusetts Colony for a short time. In fact, she was one of the first female leaders in the original thirteen colonies. But her support eventually faded. Her criticisms and protests of the Puritan Church caused her trouble.

Because of her rebellious views and teachings, Hutchinson was also banished from Massachusetts. She traveled south with other like minded supporters and founded the new town of Portsmouth in the Rhode Island Colony that Roger Williams helped create.

CONNECTICUT

Thomas Hooker was a Puritan minister in the Massachusetts Colony in the 1630's. He had no issues with Puritan religious teachings or laws. However, he did have issues with Puritan politics. Puritan law stated that only male church members who owned land had voting rights. Hooker believed that all men should have the right to vote. Because of his political views about voting, Thomas Hooker and about 100 of his followers left Massachusetts and settled the new town of Hartford and 1636. This town was the beginning of the Connecticut Colony. This colony would be based on a less restrictive political atmosphere. In the Connecticut Colony, all men had the right to vote! Some of Thomas Hookers ideas for government would become inspiration for the US Constitution. In fact, he has been called not only the father of Connecticut, but also the father of American democracy!

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