JJ.5 New England Colonies: founding and government

In the following questions, you will learn about the origins of the New England Colonies.The New England Colonies made up the northern part of the Thirteen Colonies, which were ruled by Great Britain in the 1600s and 1700s.

The population of New England included Native American groups, enslaved and free people of African descent, and European settlers. The map below shows the Thirteen Colonies in 1750. Look at the map. Then answer the question below.

Which of these colonies were in New England? Select all that apply.

• New Hampshire

• Massachusetts

• New York

• Rhode Island

• Connecticut

Look at the timeline of the early European settlements that were founded, or established, in the region that eventually became known as New England. Then answer the question below.

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the timeline?

• The Massachusetts Bay Colony was the first colony in New England.

• Some colonies did not survive past their first years.

• The New England colonies were all founded in the 1610s

The Pilgrims were members of a religious group who wanted to separate from the Church of England. In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail from Europe to start a new colony.

On their voyage across the Atlantic, the Pilgrims signed an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. The word compact means agreement. The agreement was named for the Pilgrims' ship, the Mayflower.

The text below is adapted from the Mayflower Compact. Match each part of the Mayflower Compact with its meaning.

Adapted Text: We, in the presence of God, and one another, promise to combine ourselves together into a civil body politic...

• Meaning: We are traveling to the Americas to spread our Christian religion by starting a new colony.

• Meaning: We, the people who have signed this compact, are loyal to the king of Great Britain.

• With God and each other as witnesses, we promise to work together to start a new political community.

The Pilgrims were members of a religious group who wanted to separate from the Church of England. In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail from Europe to start a new colony.

On their voyage across the Atlantic, the Pilgrims signed an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. The word compact means agreement. The agreement was named for the Pilgrims' ship, the Mayflower.

The text below is adapted from the Mayflower Compact. Match each part of the Mayflower Compact with its meaning.

Adapted Text: In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are signed below, are the loyal subjects of our Lord King James of Great Britain.

• Meaning: We are traveling to the Americas to spread our Christian religion by starting a new colony.

• Meaning: We, the people who have signed this compact, are loyal to the king of Great Britain.

• With God and each other as witnesses, we promise to work together to start a new political community.

The Pilgrims were members of a religious group who wanted to separate from the Church of England. In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail from Europe to start a new colony.

On their voyage across the Atlantic, the Pilgrims signed an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. The word compact means agreement. The agreement was named for the Pilgrims' ship, the Mayflower.

The text below is adapted from the Mayflower Compact. Match each part of the Mayflower Compact with its meaning.

Adapted Text: Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, a voyage to plant the first colony....

• Meaning: We are traveling to the Americas to spread our Christian religion by starting a new colony.

• Meaning: We, the people who have signed this compact, are loyal to the king of Great Britain.

• With God and each other as witnesses, we promise to work together to start a new political community.

The Pilgrims were not the only religious group who founded colonies in New England. Members of another group called the Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Unlike the Pilgrims, the Puritans did not want to leave the Church of England. Instead, they wanted to change the Church of England according to their religious beliefs.

The first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was a Puritan named John Winthrop.The passage below comes from a speech that Winthrop gave to the Puritans on their voyage to New England. Read the passage. Then answer the question below.

For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work . ... [and] cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.

deal falsely: break our word

byword: example

What did Winthrop mean when he told his people that their new home would be like a "a city upon a hill"?

• The Puritans needed to avoid Native Americans groups.

• The Puritans should act as if the whole world was watching

• The Puritans needed to keep their new community a secret.

• The Puritans should not build their homes too close to the ocean.

Many people who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony died during the colony's first winter. However, unlike the Plymouth Colony, the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew quickly after this first difficult year.

By the 1630s, thousands of English settlers had migrated to Massachusetts. This increase in population was called the Great Migration. Some settlers who were part of the Great Migration moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious reasons. But many others settled there for economic reasons.

Imagine that you are an English person trying to decide whether to move to Massachusetts in the 1630s. Decide whether the following factors would be advantages or disadvantages of moving to the colony.

If settlers were not Puritans, they could be punished for their religious beliefs.

• Advantages

• Disadvantages

Many people who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony died during the colony's first winter. However, unlike the Plymouth Colony, the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew quickly after this first difficult year.

By the 1630s, thousands of English settlers had migrated to Massachusetts. This increase in population was called the Great Migration. Some settlers who were part of the Great Migration moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious reasons. But many others settled there for economic reasons.

Imagine that you are an English person trying to decide whether to move to Massachusetts in the 1630s. Decide whether the following factors would be advantages or disadvantages of moving to the colony.

If settlers were Puritans, they could practice their religion freely in Massachusetts.

• Advantages

• Disadvantages

Many people who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony died during the colony's first winter. However, unlike the Plymouth Colony, the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew quickly after this first difficult year.

By the 1630s, thousands of English settlers had migrated to Massachusetts. This increase in population was called the Great Migration. Some settlers who were part of the Great Migration moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious reasons. But many others settled there for economic reasons.

Imagine that you are an English person trying to decide whether to move to Massachusetts in the 1630s. Decide whether the following factors would be advantages or disadvantages of moving to the colony.

Because land in Massachusetts was cheap, it was easier to start a farm there than it was in England.

• Advantages

• Disadvantages

Many people who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony died during the colony's first winter. However, unlike the Plymouth Colony, the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew quickly after this first difficult year.

By the 1630s, thousands of English settlers had migrated to Massachusetts. This increase in population was called the Great Migration. Some settlers who were part of the Great Migration moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious reasons. But many others settled there for economic reasons.

Imagine that you are an English person trying to decide whether to move to Massachusetts in the 1630s. Decide whether the following factors would be advantages or disadvantages of moving to the colony.

Disease killed many of the colonists.

• Advantages

• Disadvantages