Massachusetts Colony

Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact

Plymouth

The colony of Massachusetts was founded in 1620, when the Pilgrims arrived from England and formed the Plymouth Colony. Although the Pilgrims were ravaged by disease and hunger, they managed to write the Mayflower Compact, a local government that established rules and regulations in order to ensure the colony's survival. Upon their arrival, local Wamapanoag Indians, led by Chief Massasoit, taught them to plant crops. About half the original passengers on the Mayflower survived. In 1620, the Pilgrims and Indians celebrated what some consider the first Thanksgiving.

Click here to learn more about Plymouth | Click here to learn more about the first Thanksgiving

The Puritans

In 1629, Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Boston. The Puritan colony grew quickly and soon became the economic and religious center of Massachusetts. Unlike the Pilgrims, who came to Massachusetts for religious freedom, the Puritans came for religious purification, and were intolerant of other religious groups. Many religious groups were banned from Massachusetts and several dissenters exiled by the Puritans, such as Roger Williams and Joseph Hooker, founded other colonies (Rhode Island and Connecticut).

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Discussion Questions

  1. Why did the Pilgrims come to America, and how did they survive their first year?
  2. What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
  3. How were the Puritans different from the Pilgrims in their beliefs and actions?
  4. What happened to people who did not follow the Puritan religion?

Glossary

  • Mayflower Compact – A set of rules made by the Pilgrims for their new colony.
  • Pilgrims – A group of English settlers who came to America for religious freedom.
  • Puritans – A strict religious group that wanted to reform the Church of England.
  • Dissenters – People who disagreed with the main religious or political beliefs of a group.

Plymouth Colony

The colony of Massachusetts began in 1620 when the Pilgrims arrived from England and started the Plymouth Colony. They wrote the Mayflower Compact to create local rules and laws to help them survive. Many died from sickness and hunger, but with help from the Wampanoag Indians, led by Chief Massasoit, the Pilgrims learned how to plant crops. In 1621, they celebrated a harvest feast with the Wampanoag, which is considered the first Thanksgiving.

The Puritans

In 1629, the Puritans started the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Boston. It quickly became the center for trade and religion in the region. Unlike the Pilgrims, the Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of England and did not accept other beliefs. They forced some people, like Roger Williams and Thomas Hooker, to leave. Those leaders went on to start new colonies like Rhode Island and Connecticut.

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