US History

U.S. History Study Guide

each independent church congregation served as the center of a community’s political and social life. Only those individuals with good standing in the church could participate in government. The Massachusetts Bay colony was initially run by a General Court that allowed membership only to landholding Puritan men. After public outcry, all Puritan freemen, regardless of wealth or holdings, were allowed entrance. As the number of settlers increased and the General Court became too large, the settlers established a representative government, electing two representatives from each district to the General Court. 3.8 Under the Leadership of John Winthrop In 1630 John Winthrop was elected governor of Massachusetts. The Puritans eventually settled in modern day Boston. Winthrop’s colony was a community based on the Bible. He saw Massachusetts Bay as “a city upon a hill,” the light of religious morality that would shine throughout the world. But first he explained that there would always be inequalities of wealth and power, that some people would always be in positions of authority, and that others would be dependent. This reinforced the belief that social order is depended on a system of ranks and hierarchy. 3.9 Dissension in the Colony Although the colony would be successful, it would see many people leave for many different reasons. Some believing the rules were too strict, others not strict enough, and some because there was no room or not enough opportunity. In the end, the Massachusetts Bay colony would be the birthplace of the New England colonies and culture. Facts to Remember • The meaning of John Winthrop's "City Upon a Hill" speech • The religious strictness of the Puritans and how it influenced their government Connecticut Connecticut was founded by a group of Puritans led by Thomas Hooker, who left the Massachusetts Bay Colony because they felt that the government of Massachusetts was too authoritative. In 1637 a group of Puritans led by John Davenport left Massachusetts for the complete opposite reason, they felt the rules of Massachusetts were not strict enough. They would create a neighboring colony, New Haven. In 1639 settlements in the surrounding areas joined together in a unified government creating a document called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. This would be the first written constitution in America. Eventually England united Connecticut as a single colony in 1662.

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