Massachusetts
- Massachusetts was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop and other colonists. The Puritans wanted to create a colony where they could be free to practice their own religion.
- Economy- They were focused in the making of products for town life and industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing and export of rum, fishing, and whaling (whale oil). The New England colonies' soil was very poor but they still grew corn, pumpkin, rye, squash, and beans. Fish, Timber, Furs, Livestock, and ships were also traded and exported.
- Geography- Massachusetts had very unsteady and edged coasts and hills. Basically it was made up of mountains plenty of thick forest and rivers and poor, infertile soil that was horrible for farming but they still were able to plant some crops. The weather consisted of long, harsh, and cold winters with mild summers which disease occurred in the warmer colonies.
- Government- By the royal charter in 1691 Plymouth colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were joined together. Plymouth was based off the mayflower compact while the Massachusetts Bay Colony was under a charter but had their own government. The General Court rules until 1634, and created a representative legislative body that was divided into two houses. John Winthrop was also Massachusetts' governor.
- Celebrity Residents- President John Adams, President John Quincy Adams, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, President George Bush, Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, President John F. Kennedy, Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Revere, and Henry David Thoreau.
- Religion- The religion in the Massachusetts Colony was Puritan, there was not any form of religious tolerance as the Puritans accepted no other form of religion.
- Residency Requirements- To just live in the Massachusetts Colony you had to be Puritan and there was no exception.
- Target Residents- They were targeting any puritans that were victims of religious persecution.
- Founding Documents- The Royal Charter from King William III in 1691.
"For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us."
-John Winthrop
In this quote, John Winthrop was telling other puritans that many people would be looking up to them in the Massachusetts Colony. He was saying that the colony must be ideal and a role model for all other Christian colonies. From this quote, you can tell that John Winthrop had high hopes for Massachusetts.