Massachusetts
Founding
The first people to be in Massachusetts were the Pilgrims. They came to get away from the Church in England. In September, 1620, a group of Puritans traveled from England to the Americas on a ship called the Mayflower. The 102 people traveling on this ship were ready to escape persecution in England and live independently with religious freedom in the New World. These Puritans got a patent from the London Virginia Company and their trip was funded by this company until everybody settled. The colonists took 66 days to travel through the ocean to reach New England. The Puritans arrived and anchored at the edge of Cape Cod, which is now a part of Massachusetts. Before they arrived, they agreed to an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. The rules in this agreement served as official constitutional laws for the Massachusetts colony temporarily.
Important Documents
The Mayflower Compact: The founding document of Massachusetts.
http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/PrimarySources/MayflowerCompact.php
Government
In all the New England colonies, white males were allowed to vote. In this colony, only stockholders were allowed to vote at first then the rule changed allowing all white males who were a part of the Congregational Church to vote. New England colonies such as Massachusetts had town meetings. The discussed different things during these meetings. For example they could have been discussing how much to pay people in the colony. These meeting are what spread democratic ideas. Massachusetts was a royal colony, a colony in which the King of England granted a charter to the colonial government establishing the rules under which the colony was to be governed.
Geography
Massachusetts lies in the northeastern region of the United States. It was bordered by Vermont and New Hampshire on the north, New York on the west, and Connecticut and Rhode Island on the south. Atlantic Ocean formed its eastern border. Appalachian Mountains was on the eastern part of Massachusetts. The hilly landscape prevented farms getting too big. The soil was too poor for farming in this area. It was also cold. Instead of farming, they cut down trees and built ships.
Economy
The people here weren't really rich or really poor. They were mostly middle class families. Massachusetts may not have been one of the best farming colonies out of the thirteen colonies, but it depended largely on fishing, livestock, lumbering, and shipbuilding. They usually traded with countries in Europe and the West Indies in order to make the most profit. Massachusetts was the first colony to allow slavery out of the New England colonies.
Religion
Puritans were a powerful and disliked group in England. This is why they came to the New World to make a colony. Since Massachusetts was founded by Puritans, it did not allow any religion besides Puritan. This colony didn't want anything to do with the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. The religion affected the amount of education the kids were getting. They believed that kids should be able to read the bible so they taught them all how to read.
Celebrity Residents
Anne Hutchinson was an early-17th century Puritan living in Massachusetts who became the leader of a dissident church discussion group. Leaders did not like that she had the right to do what she was doing because she was a women. She was put on trail and said some things that mad the General Court members angry. She was banished and went to Rhode Island. William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers in Massachusetts and served as governor for over 30 years. John Winthrop was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony.
Target Resident Profile
No religions are allowed in Massachusetts besides the Puritan religion. Massachusetts is great for Puritan white males because they get many rights here. Because this colony believed so strongly in the Puritan religion, they believe children should be able to read the bible, so if you want your child to learn how to read, Massachusetts is the colony for you. This colony is also great for those who enjoy a more powerful government because Massachusetts is a royal colony. If your business has something to do with fishing, livestock, lumbering, or shipbuilding, Massachusetts is the colony for you because it depends largely on these businesses. You will definitely be successful if you are a merchant because you will make a lot of profit. If you have slaves, bring them here because Massachusetts allows slavery.
The first people to be in Massachusetts were the Pilgrims. They came to get away from the Church in England. In September, 1620, a group of Puritans traveled from England to the Americas on a ship called the Mayflower. The 102 people traveling on this ship were ready to escape persecution in England and live independently with religious freedom in the New World. These Puritans got a patent from the London Virginia Company and their trip was funded by this company until everybody settled. The colonists took 66 days to travel through the ocean to reach New England. The Puritans arrived and anchored at the edge of Cape Cod, which is now a part of Massachusetts. Before they arrived, they agreed to an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. The rules in this agreement served as official constitutional laws for the Massachusetts colony temporarily.
Important Documents
The Mayflower Compact: The founding document of Massachusetts.
http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/PrimarySources/MayflowerCompact.php
Government
In all the New England colonies, white males were allowed to vote. In this colony, only stockholders were allowed to vote at first then the rule changed allowing all white males who were a part of the Congregational Church to vote. New England colonies such as Massachusetts had town meetings. The discussed different things during these meetings. For example they could have been discussing how much to pay people in the colony. These meeting are what spread democratic ideas. Massachusetts was a royal colony, a colony in which the King of England granted a charter to the colonial government establishing the rules under which the colony was to be governed.
Geography
Massachusetts lies in the northeastern region of the United States. It was bordered by Vermont and New Hampshire on the north, New York on the west, and Connecticut and Rhode Island on the south. Atlantic Ocean formed its eastern border. Appalachian Mountains was on the eastern part of Massachusetts. The hilly landscape prevented farms getting too big. The soil was too poor for farming in this area. It was also cold. Instead of farming, they cut down trees and built ships.
Economy
The people here weren't really rich or really poor. They were mostly middle class families. Massachusetts may not have been one of the best farming colonies out of the thirteen colonies, but it depended largely on fishing, livestock, lumbering, and shipbuilding. They usually traded with countries in Europe and the West Indies in order to make the most profit. Massachusetts was the first colony to allow slavery out of the New England colonies.
Religion
Puritans were a powerful and disliked group in England. This is why they came to the New World to make a colony. Since Massachusetts was founded by Puritans, it did not allow any religion besides Puritan. This colony didn't want anything to do with the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. The religion affected the amount of education the kids were getting. They believed that kids should be able to read the bible so they taught them all how to read.
Celebrity Residents
Anne Hutchinson was an early-17th century Puritan living in Massachusetts who became the leader of a dissident church discussion group. Leaders did not like that she had the right to do what she was doing because she was a women. She was put on trail and said some things that mad the General Court members angry. She was banished and went to Rhode Island. William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers in Massachusetts and served as governor for over 30 years. John Winthrop was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony.
Target Resident Profile
No religions are allowed in Massachusetts besides the Puritan religion. Massachusetts is great for Puritan white males because they get many rights here. Because this colony believed so strongly in the Puritan religion, they believe children should be able to read the bible, so if you want your child to learn how to read, Massachusetts is the colony for you. This colony is also great for those who enjoy a more powerful government because Massachusetts is a royal colony. If your business has something to do with fishing, livestock, lumbering, or shipbuilding, Massachusetts is the colony for you because it depends largely on these businesses. You will definitely be successful if you are a merchant because you will make a lot of profit. If you have slaves, bring them here because Massachusetts allows slavery.