Puritans
A group of English Protestants aiming to purify the Church of England from within.
Separatists
English Protestants who sought to completely separate from the Church of England and establish independent congregations.
Massachusetts Bay Colony
A colony founded by Puritans in 1630 to create a society based on Puritan religious principles.
Plymouth Colony
The settlement established by Separatists (Pilgrims) in 1620 at Plymouth Rock.
Mayflower Compact
A pioneering document signed by Pilgrims in 1620 to establish a government based on majority rule and mutual consent.
John Winthrop
The first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for his vision of a "city upon a hill."
Anne Hutchinson
A religious dissenter in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who challenged Puritan leadership and was expelled for her beliefs.
Roger Williams
An advocate for religious freedom and separation of church and state, who founded Providence Plantations in 1636.
King Philip’s War
A conflict (1675-1676) between New England colonists and Native American tribes led by Metacom, resulting in significant loss of life and destruction.
New England Confederation
A military alliance formed in 1643 among Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven for mutual defense.
Dominion of New England
A royal administrative union created in 1686 to centralize control over several New England colonies.
Sir Edmund Andros
The governor of the Dominion of New England, known for his strict enforcement of royal policies and suppression of colonial self-governance.
Navigation Laws
British regulations designed to control colonial trade and ensure it benefited England, leading to colonial resistance.
Quakers
A religious group known for their beliefs in pacifism, equality, and religious freedom, founded by George Fox.
William Penn
A prominent Quaker who founded Pennsylvania in 1681 as a refuge for Quakers and other religious dissenters.
Blue Laws
Regulations enacted to enforce moral standards and religious observance, particularly in Puritan colonies, often restricting activities on Sundays.