The Growth of New England

Puritan separatists decided to move out of Europe due to oppression from defying the Church of England
Moving to the colonies would help them attain religious freedom

The puritans colonized Cape Cod and used the Mayflower Compact as legal documentation for settlement
Eventually, the colony migrated up to Plymouth Rock
The first winter in the colony caused the death of around half the population
The pilgrims (what the puritan colonizers called themselves) spread smallpox to the Natives which ended up killing many of them
The pilgrims made a living off of domesticating animals and combining Native American crops with their diets

Because the Natives were weak due to disease, they were forced to forge alliances with the English
The Natives taught the English how to fish, hunt, and farm until smallpox killed them off
The pilgrims were able to trade by producing fur and growing corn

William Bradford persuaded the Council of New England for permission to live in Plymouth through the communal labor plan, which he paid off through earnings from the pilgrim fur trade

Some puritan merchants for a charter from Charles I to help establish the Massachusetts Bay Company and improve the economy
Later, the company was used to create a safe haven for puritans

John Winthrop helped take seventeen ships to New England with the Massachusetts Bay Company charter in hand
The Massachusetts Bay Company became a colonial free government and freemen (all male citizens) chose officers and established roles

Each church in every town followed its own rules rather than all of them functioning in the same manner
Massachusetts puritans strove to have successful and meaningful lives

Though the church didn’t have any literal political power, the church had a large influence on people and had the right to tax anyone, even those who weren’t members of the church, which ended up creating a theocratic society
The Massachussets Bay colony did a much better job of surviving winter as they were able to establish trade, store food, and keep good order in the colony