Massachusetts Bay Colony - Timeline Event
Founder
English Puritans
Time Period
1630
Description
A group of Puritans, led by John Winthrop, established the Massachusetts Bay Colony after fleeing religious persecution in England. Since they rejected the existence of bishops and royal absolutism, they came into conflict with King Charles I. They received a charter from him to establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which they settled in 1630.
These Puritans, led by GovernorJohn Winthrop, desired for Massachusetts to be an ideal Christian community under the providence of God. They emphasized obligation to God and each other but were not a formal theocracy. In fact, ministers held less power there anywhere in Europe at the time. They did, however, establish laws enforcing social distinctions and banning excessive displays of wealth. They also restricted the franchise in civil elections to (white male) church members.
These Puritans, led by Governor
Interactive Timeline(s)
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Religious Groups
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Anglicanism FamilyAnglicanism Family: Other ARDA Links
Anglicanism Family: Religious Family Tree
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Congregationalists (UCC)
Congregationalists (UCC): Other ARDA Links
Congregationalists (UCC): Religious Family Tree
Biographies
Bradstreet, AnneWinthrop, John
Related Dictionary Terms
ChristianityPhotographs
Salem, Massachusetts- Internet Archive- from Ruth of Boston by James Otis
John Winthrop statue- Architect of the Capitol National Statuary Hall Collection
Massachusetts Bay Colony meeting- Internet Archive- from Ruth of Boston by James Otis
Massachusetts Bay Colony puritans- US History Images
Massachusetts Bay Colony charter- Internet Archive- from History of the Pilgrims and Puritans by Joseph Dillaway Sawyer
Book/Journal Source(s)
Queen, Edward, Stephen Prothero and Gardiner Shattuck, 1996. The Encyclopedia of American Religious History New York: Facts on File.Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
