Massachusetts Bay Colony was one of the first 13 original colonies. The name Massachusetts is an indian word. It means “at the great hill” or “large hill place.” Boston became its capital in 1632. Boston was a very popular port city, and had lots of available jobs for immigrants.
The primary intention of the Massachusetts Bay was to make business but was also used by the Puritans as a refuge. In 1630, 11 ships arrived to Massachusetts with about 1,000 settlers who founded Boston and seven towns close by. Then in 1635, English government intended to invalidate the charter, but the colony decided not to return it. After many interruptions and requests along with the political and religion conflicts with in England, the charter was at last revoked, after 50 years of self-government, in June 1684. Once again “Salutary Neglect” became an informal policy of English
Massachusetts was founded by Puritans, Plymouth by separatists and Massachusetts Bay by non-separatists, and it began as a corporate colony, like Virginia. In Plymouth, they had a governor to be led by, which repeatedly was William Bradford. On the other hand, Massachusetts Bay was more of a theocracy, where the church was not officially part of their, politics, but there was not a fine line between the two. The ministers of Massachusetts Bay would be protected by the government and they also had a strong influence on members of the church, so nearly everyone. Massachusetts economy consisted mainly of agriculture such as fishing, corn, and livestock, and manufacturing involving lumber and shipbuilding.
The company, which was strongly Puritan, had been conducting business in the New World for a few years as the New England Company. The company then renamed itself the Massachusetts Bay Company and was granted a charter by Charles I on March 4, 1629. John Winthrop was strictly a Puritan. There was great migration of all race and religion including separatists and puritans who escaped religious persecution. The Mayflower Compact was made by Pilgrims to keep things in
Breaking away from Catholicism rituals, Puritan groups such as Separatists established a colony in Plymouth (Tindall & Shi, 2013). Here they were able to escape the requirements of the Church of England. As additional settlers came over from England, the religious diversity increased requiring additional colonies. The Quakers, the Jews, and the Baptists all had different religious beliefs and to remain harmonious had to settle in a completely different location, one that is now known as Rhode Island (Tindall & Shi, 2013). In this location, the settlers were able to practice their religion without fear of coercion by the government.
The history of Massachusetts includes two religious groups. The Pilgrims can to our colony to separate from the Church of England. They came over from Europe on a ship called the Mayflower. After their arrival at Plymouth Rock at 1620 they agreed to sign the Mayflower Compact, a new form of government that made the laws, the majority rules. Later, they celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Native Americans.
This difference was contributed to religious tolerance, economics, and population. Religion was distinctly different between the New England and Chesapeake regions. Although both were overall Catholic, the degree of tolerance for
The Massachusetts Bay Experiment, despite the fact that it began as a business endeavor, was profoundly grounded on religion. As John Winthrop said, they needed to make a "city upon a slope," or an ideal world where God's support could be accomplished. To accomplish this Promised Land, the Puritans dedicated themselves to their congregation life and God. Investing hours at administration consistently, the Puritans were a nearly weave group because of the force of the congregation. At whatever point any issue in the group developed, the Puritans looked to the congregation to give them an answer.
Plymouth was established by the Pilgrims, who were very conservative. Massachusetts was established by the Puritans who did not want to separate from the church, but rather reform the church. The Puritans also wanted religious freedom for themselves and no one
New England’s founders were strict Puritans who did not have much tolerance for any religion except their own. Over time, as more and more immigrants came with increasingly diverse beliefs, the once stable foundation began to crack. Conflicts broke out and certain religious groups were banished which led to the development of other nearby colonies, for example Rhode Island and Connecticut. In the Chesapeake region, it was easier and there was not as much controversy over religion. The area started out as a refuge for Catholics, but over time many Protestants immigrated there and soon became the majority.
The colonists wanted religious freedom. One reason they originally left England was to escape the Catholic Church. Some called themselves Puritans. They wanted the church and the state to be more separate.
He was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay and named Massachusetts Bay a City upon a Hill. This was the start of the new reformed Protestantism. With this new model the Puritans took it upon themselves to convert others, especially Native Americans to live in Praying Towns to ensure they convert. This is where the bloody and violent history that really isn’t taught in school starts.
The New Englanders took religion seriously, making unitary laws according to Puritan standards. John Winthrop, later chosen as the first Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, was seeking religious freedom. Wishing to inspire the colonists to dwell in brotherly unity, he summoned them together to remind them “that if we [colonists] shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.” On the other hand, those in the Chesapeake region came for the wealth that America promised. They were there to become prosperous or die trying.
The religion of the people from New England was called Puritan, which that meant
New England’s economy would also be influenced by the British tax later that would cause Americans to revolt many of which trusted in their faith to guide them The Puritans who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 were also motivated by religious beliefs. They believed in the idea of a "city upon a hill," a vision of a holy community that would serve as an example to the rest of the world (American YAWP, 2.6). This belief led to a strict social order and a commitment to the moral and spiritual purity of the community. It also led to conflicts with other religious groups, such as the Quakers, who were seen as a threat to the Puritan social order.
