Puritans and Colonies

The Puritans

  • Were not equal or accepting of everyone.
  • Were very strict and only accepted people like themselves, with the exception of Rhode Island.

Mayflower and Separatists

  • Puritans arrived on the Mayflower.
  • Not everyone on the Mayflower was a Puritan, but the majority ruled.
  • They were extreme Puritans, known as separatists, who wanted to separate from the Church of England.
  • Some came for adventure or gold but had to sign the Mayflower Compact.
  • The Mayflower Compact was the first written form of government in the New World.
  • The Articles were the first written form of the government in the United States.
  • Leader was Bradford.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

  • The Native American group helped the people of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  • John Winthrop referred to it as a "city upon a hill".
  • They did not focus on large plantation farming due to:
    • Rocky, stony soil.
    • Poor weather.
  • Instead, they focused on:
    • Lumber.
    • Timber resources.
    • Waterways and shipping.
    • Large population growth, with women having an average of eight children.

Calvinism and Predestination

  • At birth, people are destined for either heaven or hell (Calvinism).
  • A "visible saint" is someone who has had a moment of revelation.
  • If someone doesn't have this moment, they might not want to go to church.
  • This doctrine eventually leads to the Great Awakening.
  • Great Awakening shifts focus from predestination to attending church.
  • Later, the focus shifts to doing good things and being a good person.
  • This leads to reform movements.

Anne Hutchinson

  • Believed she didn't need to obey the laws of God or man because she was saved.
  • She was banished to Rhode Island.
  • Considered one of the first women's rights activists for standing up to male authorities.

Rhode Island

  • Founded by Roger Williams.
  • Offered total freedom of religion.

Other Colonies

  • Maryland was primarily for Catholics.
  • Pennsylvania, founded by the Quakers, initially promoted equality but was eventually overrun with wealth.
  • Connecticut: Fundamental Orders, a early state constitution.
    • Modeled by other colonies and later states.

Native Americans

  • Wampanoag and Squanto helped the colonists.
  • The Pequot Wars occurred in this region.
  • Colonists tried to assimilate Native Americans into "praying towns".
  • Thanksgiving story: Natives wiped out rival bands.

Confederation vs. Dominion

  • The Confederation was a cool kid defense alliance created by the colonists.
  • The Dominion was run by someone the colonists hated (Andros).

Mercantilism and Navigation Acts

  • Mercantilism: wealth = power, wealth = resources + people.
  • Navigation Acts required goods shipped from the colonies to go to England first for taxation.
  • This led to smuggling.
  • Increased taxes led to more smuggling, eventually contributing to the Revolution.

Glorious Revolution

  • Led to the English Bill of Rights and return control of parliament.
  • Spilled over to the colonies, ending control from England.
  • Led to the American shipbuilding industry.
  • Some of these ships were later used against the English.

New Netherlands

  • Became New York.
  • New Amsterdam became New York City.
  • The Dutch originally built a wall to keep out the natives, which eventually became Wall Street.
  • Wall Street is in the news due to Trump tariffs.

Quakers

  • Very democratic and open.
  • Gave power to women.
  • Believed in total equality and religious freedom.
  • Were the first abolitionists.
  • Were eventually overrun by aristocratic white families.

Colonial Comparison

  • New England vs. Southern vs. Middle Colonies.
  • Chesapeake = Southern colonies (Virginia, Maryland area).

New England

  • Nickname: Workshop with industry.
  • Major religion: Puritan.
  • Family-based.
  • People lived longer, had more kids, and had better diets.
  • Women were socially protected against their husbands.

Southern Colonies

  • Women had property rights after their husbands died.
  • Established church: Church of England (Anglican).

Middle Colonies

  • No established church.
  • Most ethnically diverse.
  • Grew grains and wheat.