DuckstersDucksters
History Biography Geography Science Games

History >> Colonial America

Colonial America

Puritans

The Puritans played a major role in colonizing much of the United States including the New England colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Who were the Puritans?

The Puritans were English Christians who did not agree with the practices of the Church of England. They were different from the Separatists (many of the Pilgrims were Separatists) in that they wanted to stay with the Church of England, but change the practices from within the church. The Separatists, on the other hand, wanted to leave the Church of England and start their own church.

What did the Puritans believe?

The Puritans wanted the reformed church to be very different from the Catholic church. Their church services were simple and were centered around the Bible. The church building itself was simple with few decorations. No musical instruments were allowed to be played inside the church. The Puritans were Christians who followed the philosophies of John Calvin and believed that faith, not works, was the key to salvation.

Puritans arriving in Massachusetts
by Eva March Tappan
Why did they move to America?

The Puritans moved to America in order to practice their religion free from persecution. All English subjects were expected to be members of the Church of England. Being a Puritan was illegal and people who practiced Puritanism had a tough time in England. Things got especially difficult for Puritans in England around the 1620s and 1630s when the Catholic archbishop decided it was time to wipe out Puritanism in England.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

in 1630, eleven ships led by John Winthrop arrived in New England carrying more than 700 Puritan settlers. They established the Massachusetts Bay Colony and settled near the modern day city of Boston. John Winthrop served as governor of the new colony. He wanted it to be a "city on a hill" (a passage from the Bible) that would be an example to Europe of how a Protestant society could flourish.

The Great Migration

The next ten years is sometimes referred to as the Great Migration. During this time around 20,000 Puritans moved from England to New England. Many of these immigrants were families who continued to have children allowing the colony to grow quickly in population.

New Puritan Colonies

The Puritan leaders of Massachusetts Bay Colony had very strict rules and regulations regarding their church. People who disagreed with them were often forced to leave the colony. Some of these people formed new colonies to the south of Massachusetts including Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Rhode Island

Roger Williams was a Puritan religious leader who believed that the government should be separate from the church. He also thought that people should have more religious freedom. He was banished from Massachusetts and formed his own settlement called Providence in 1636.

Another Puritan leader, Anne Hutchinson, spoke out against the Puritan leaders of Massachusetts. She said they were focusing on "works" for salvation and not "faith." She was banished as well and started the settlement of Portsmouth in 1638.

Portsmouth and Providence, along with two other settlements, merged together to form the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1644.

Connecticut

Another prominent Puritan leader in Massachusetts, Thomas Hooker, formed the Colony of Connecticut in 1636 after a disagreement over who should have the right to vote. Connecticut became the first colony to have its own written constitution that created a formal government.

Interesting Facts about Puritans Activities
To learn more about Colonial America:

Colonies and Places
Lost Colony of Roanoke
Jamestown Settlement
Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims
The Thirteen Colonies
Williamsburg

Daily Life
Clothing - Men's
Clothing - Women's
Daily Life in the City
Daily Life on the Farm
Food and Cooking
Homes and Dwellings
Jobs and Occupations
Places in a Colonial Town
Women's Roles
Slavery
People
William Bradford
Henry Hudson
Pocahontas
James Oglethorpe
William Penn
Puritans
John Smith
Roger Williams

Events
French and Indian War
King Philip's War
Mayflower Voyage
Salem Witch Trials

Other
Timeline of Colonial America
Glossary and Terms of Colonial America


Works Cited

History >> Colonial America


Ducksters Footer Gif with Ducks


About Ducksters Privacy Policy 

 

This site is a product of TSI (Technological Solutions, Inc.), Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use.