Massachusetts Bay Colony

Discover the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and its unique government!

The Beginnings of Massachusetts Bay Colony Many more Puritans followed after the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth. John Winthrop was an early American colonist, originally from England. He sailed to the New World with a fleet of 11 ships and landed at Salem, Massachusetts in 1630, with a charter to start a new colony. Winthrop and his followers began in Salem, a town north of Plymouth, and later moved to present-day Boston where they began building their colony. The colony was named the Massachusetts Bay Colony after the Massachusett Indians living in the region. The governor of the colony, John Winthrop, declared that the new colony would be a “city upon a hill” that would provide a model of devout Christian life for the rest of the world. Salem and Boston became two of the largest Massachusetts Bay Colony settlements. Although the people of the New England colonies were legally bound to obey the king, the king and other leaders in England provided only loose oversight of the colonial governments. The settlers needed to make arrangements to govern themselves. Most New England communities held town meetings (a form of self-government). Participants in town meetings made decisions and rules concerning the business of the town. They elected government officials, made local laws, set taxes, and spent money on schools, public improvements, and law enforcement. Anyone at the meeting could speak to bring up problems and propose solutions. However, these Puritans did not believe in religious freedom. The Massachusetts Bay Colony only granted equal rights to those who joined the state church. Puritan leaders agreed to recognize only church members that were white males and property owners as people who could vote, which created a government system known as a theocracy. Everyone went to church. People had to pay fines if they missed services. The minister's sermon or speech was about town problems or worries. Often a man held a long pole to wake people or push children who were laughing during their sermon. Church was very serious. What was the name of the English leader who started a colony in Salem, Massachusetts John Smith John Winthrop Roger Williams James Clark Who was the Massachusetts Bay Colony named after? Chief Massasoit Massachusetts Indians Chief Massasunset Iroquois Indians How did many New England Colonists participate in self government? Town Meetings Running for President Going to the city on a hill Protesting What three things did the Puritan leaders decide people needed in order to Vote? (Select 3) Be a white man Be a free woman Be a member of the church Own property A government that is directly connected to a religion is knows as ... Monarchy Theocracy Dictatorship Democracy Letter written by John Winthrop, 1634: (excerpt) I esteem them to be in all about 4000 souls upward: in good health (for the most part) well provided of all necessaries… For Our subsistence here… have supplied all our wants, for Cattle, the fruits of our labors… Our civil Government is mixed: the freemen choose the magistrates every year . . . and at 4: courts in the year 3: out of each town (there being 8 in all) do assist the magistrates in making laws, imposing taxes, disposing of lands… For the natives, they are near all dead of the smallpox, so the Lord hath cleared our title to what we possess. What happened to the Natives in the area of Massachusetts Colony? Who does John Winthrop think is responsible for this? Answer both parts of the Question Colonial Leaders: Anne Hutchinson Early LifeAnne Hutchinson, was born around 1591 in England. Hutchinson's father preached the Puritan faith. Puritans were fed up with the Church of England and the Catholic Church. They wanted to "purify" the church and try to understand God's will through reading and following the Bible. Better educated than most men of the day, Hutchinson spent her youth absorbing the religious works in her father’s library.Beliefs And TeachingsAnne argued that a person's public conduct was not necessarily proof of grace, and that Puritan leaders were making it seem as if someone could earn salvation through one's actions. Hutchinson believed that once a person received grace they no longer had to live by human laws and or listen to religious or government officials. Some Puritan leaders feared this view could threaten the authority of the government. Hutchinson was a woman of great intelligence and energy, and she had a captivating personality that drew people toward her. Hutchinson’s views challenged religious orthodoxy. In addition, her growing power as a female religious leader was seen as a threat. At the time, all religious leaders were male, and women were not allowed to speak or teach in public.On TrialHutchinson was eventually charged with heresy, the spreading of false and dangerous religious ideas. In November 1637, she was hauled before the colony's General Court. For two days she defended herself skillfully against charges that she had defamed the colony’s ministers and that as a woman she had dared to teach men. However, as the trial approached its conclusion, Hutchinson claimed that God had spoken to her directly. She declared that he had promised to curse the Puritans and their descendants if they harmed her. It found Hutchinson guilty of heresy, and it sentenced her to banishment from the colony.Exile And DeathIn 1638, Hutchinson and her family moved to Roger Williams’ new colony of Rhode Island, where she helped found the town of Portsmouth. In 1643, Hutchinson and six of her children were killed by Siwanoy Indians, possibly at the urging of Puritan authorities. Summarize Anne Hutchinson's life using 4 complete sentences True or False: John Winthrop, the Governor of the colony, believed in religious freedom where all people could worship as they chose. True False If False: Explain why it is false in one complete sentence True or False: Town meetings were a form of self-government, which gave a voice to colonists and allowed them to participate in local governments. True False If False: Explain why it is false in one complete sentence True or False: Puritan leaders agreed to accept church members and non-church members, as men who were entitled to vote and hold office, which created a theocracy system of government. True False If False: Explain why it is false in one complete sentence True or False: Anne Hutchinson was an influential Puritan leader who challenged the male religious authority. For this she was exiled from the colony. True False If False: Explain why it is false in one complete sentence