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U.S. History I - Seventeenth Century Colonial Settlements

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    Study Guide U.S. History I – Seventeenth Century Colonial Settlements 1. New England Colonies The New England colonies were primarily founded for religious reasons , but the ideals of religious freedom were limited and often applied only to those who shared the founders’ beliefs. 1.1 Religious Motivation and Puritan Ideals • The main settlers were Puritans , who wanted to “purify” the Church of England from practices they considered too Catholic. • Puritans supported a congregationalist church structure , where each church was largely self - governing, rather than the hierarchical episcopal system of England. • Separatists , a more radical group, wanted a complete break from the Anglican Church . They first moved to the Netherlands for tolerance but later sailed to North America aboard the Mayflower in 1620 , becoming the Pilgrims . 1.2 Plymouth Colony • Pilgrims landed in southern Massachusetts , outside the Virginia Company’s jurisdiction. • They signed the Mayflower Compact , establishing a civil government under the English king. • Plymouth faced disease, starvation, and harsh conditions . • Relations with Native Americans were mixed ; while the “First Thanksgiving” is remembered as peaceful, the Pilgrims sometimes used force to control local tribes. • Plymouth grew slowly, trading furs and raising maize.

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    Study Guide 1.3 Massachusetts Bay Colony • Founded by Non - Separatist Puritans between 1630 – 1640 as part of the Great Migration (over 20,000 people). • Led by John Winthrop , who envisioned the colony as “a city upon a hill” , a model of piety. • Churches operated under congregationalist principles , controlled finances, and hired ministers. • Membership was restricted to “saints” , those who passed rigorous spiritual examinations. • Education was vital for literacy and Bible study; Harvard College was founded in 1636 . 1.4 Religious Dissent and Rhode Island • Roger Williams advocated for separation of church and state and religious freedom; he founded Providence , later Rhode Island. • Anne Hutchinson challenged clerical authority and gender norms; she was exiled and later killed in New Netherland. 1.5 Society, Law, and the Half - Way Covenant • Massachusetts Bay was a theocracy , with laws based on Puritan values. • Church membership was required for voting, and personal behavior was strictly regulated. • The Half - Way Covenant (1662) allowed baptized children of non - church - member parents limited membership, addressing declining church participation. • 1691 royal charter shifted voting rights to property owners and allowed religious toleration. 1.6 Salem Witch Trials • Witchcraft hysteria (1692 – 1693) led to over 100 imprisoned and 20 executed . • Causes included family rivalries, social tensions , and conflicts with Puritan beliefs.

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    Study Guide 1.7 Other New England Colonies • Connecticut (1636 – 1639) : Founded by Thomas Hooker and others from Massachusetts; the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) established self - rule and voting for all freemen. • New Hampshire and Maine : Originally proprietary colonies; Massachusetts controlled New Hampshire until 1679 and Maine until 1820 . 2. Chesapeake Colonies: Virginia and Maryland 2.1 Virginia: Tobacco and Government By 1700 , Virginia colonists had made their fortunes growing tobacco , a trend followed in Maryland and the Carolinas . • Religion: The Church of England was the official church, supported by taxes. However, because there were few churches and clergy, religion was less important in daily life. • Government: Virginia’s government was modeled after English county courts. A royal governor appointed justices of the peace to set taxes and oversee public works like bridges and roads. • In the 1650s , Virginia created a bicameral assembly : o House of Burgesses – elected lower house o Governor’s Council – appointed upper house 2.2 Maryland: A Haven for Catholics Maryland was the first proprietary colony , granted to Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore . • Lord Baltimore named the colony after Queen Henrietta Maria and intended it as a safe place for English Catholics . • Few Catholics settled there; instead, Protestants came for cheap land. • Large estates, similar to medieval manors, created the plantation system . • In 1649 , the Act of Religious Toleration allowed freedom of worship for Christians. But by 1654 , Protestants repealed it, leading to near civil war until 1658 . Religious tension remained for years.

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