Massachusetts was first colonized by principally English Europeans in the early 17th century, and became the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the 18th century. Massachusetts . A new charter was issued in 1691 that joined the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, and the Maine Colony as the Province of Massachusetts Bay and placed it under a royal governor. By moving the Massachusetts Bay Company’s General Court from England to America, the Puritans converted it from an instrument of the company to a legislative and administrative assembly free from royal oversight. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). By a shrewd and legally questionable move, however, the patentees decided to transfer the management and the charter itself to Massachusetts. The Puritans were much different from the … Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Between 1629 and 1643, nearly 9,000 immigrants in … Major industries in the Massachusetts Colony included fishing, livestock, farming, lumber, and shipbuilding. Many good republicans detected…, …Cavalier; Puritan ideas prevailed in Massachusetts. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 year old (GCSE). The Indians and the Pilgrims went on to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in the New World together. 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. The first public school in North America, the Boston Latin School, was established in Boston in 1635, and Harvard University was founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636. See more ideas about Massachusetts bay colony, Massachusetts, Colonial america. Harvard was the first college established in North America. Facts about Connecticut Colony 8: the original colonies. Updates? One of early America’s most famous and successful colonies was at Plymouth, which was founded by the Pilgrims who sailed from England on the Mayflower in 1620. When Massachusetts absorbed the New Hampshire Colony for several decades, its major towns also included Concord. The 13 original colonies were divided into three areas including the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. In 1630 a group of people called Puritans left England for North America. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. They disagreed with some practices of England’s official church, the Church of … The Massachusetts state motto is 'By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty'. Massachusetts Bay Colony. The settlement they started in America was called the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Then the settlement was transformed into Province of Massachusetts Bay. . It was founded and developed by Puritans, religious reformers who sought to 'purify' the policies and practices of the Anglican Church of Catholic … 9. The Massachusetts Colony was one of four colonies that made up the New England Colonies, which also included the New Hampshire Colony, the Connecticut Colony, and the Rhode Island Colony. These religious Separatists believed that the true…, …as Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts, where the economy was relatively successful and many people saw little need for such extreme remedies. The charter of 1691 merged the Plymouth colony and Maine into the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Then, in 1634, General Court ruled to create a representative legislative body-a bi-cameral legislature, creating two separate houses. Volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Between 1675 and 1677 the Indians and the colonists fought a bloody battle called King Philip's War. By the mid-1640s its population numbered about 3,000 people. The Massachusetts Colony was founded in 1630, and existed until 1776 when it joined in the fight for independence against Great Britain. When the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620 it was the local Wamapanoag Indians who taught them how to plant crops. The General Court was made into a bicameral assembly in 1644. United States presidents that were born in Massachusetts include John Adams, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and George Herbert Walker Bush. The other industries in the colony were livestock products, whiskey, beer, rum, horses, maple syrups, furs and timber products. Basketball was invented in Massachusetts by Jim Naismith. The Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield. The History of Boston, Massachusetts From 1630-1795 One of America’s most historically rich cities, the story of our nation is evident on nearly every corner in Boston. As the colony of Massachusetts began to grow, the people became more independent minded. The first person to be executed in the Massachusetts Bay colony was guilty of sex with a turkey. The Puritans were a group of Protestant Christians with strict religious beliefs. The Atlantic ocean feeds into the Massachusetts bay, which makes trade with neighboring colonies simpler and more efficient. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was a settlement established by the English along the east coast of North America during the seventeenth century; it is the area which is known as present-day Boston along with parts of Salem. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The climate in the Massachusetts Colony included long, cold winters and mild summers. Having moved overseas, they continued to omit such extravagances as fine brocades, rich laces, ribbons, and feathers.…. Massachusetts Colony Facts The Massachusetts Colony was one of the original 13 colonies in America. Massachusetts Bay Colony Facts & Worksheets Massachusetts Bay Colony facts and information activity worksheet pack and fact file. Among the communities that the Puritans established were Boston, Charlestown, Dorchester, Medford, Watertown, Roxbury, and Lynn. Massachusetts Bay Colony includes parts of New England, centered around Boston and Salem. The Massachusetts Colony was one of the original 13 colonies in America. The Puritans who settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony intended to set up a society that would accord with what they believed to be God’s wishes. It is believed that at … John Winthrop and Deputy Gov. The Massachusetts Bay colony was settled by a group of non-Separatist Puritans from England in 1630. John Winthrop, a Puritan, founded the Massachusetts Colony, naming it as such after an Algonquin tribe. Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628-1691 CE) was the largest English settlement in New England and the most influential both in the colonization of the region and later developments in what would become the United States of America. The first baseball World Series was held in Boston in 1903. The grant empowering the group to create a colony in Massachusetts was granted by King Charles I to the Massachusetts Bay Company. Massachusetts Bay Colony, one of the original English settlements in present-day Massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a group of about 1,000 Puritan refugees from England under Gov. So if you are big on fishing, sailing, or even the beach this would be the ideal place for you. The original 13 colonies were divided into three geographic areas consisting of the New England, Middle and Southern colonies. Massachusetts's coast is jagged. Facts about Massachusetts Bay Colony 1: the present-day settlement People started living in what’s now called Massachusetts about 12,000 years ago, when retreating glaciers uncovered the land. One of the original 13 colonies and one of the six New England states, Massachusetts is known for being the landing place of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, by Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower, a ship carrying settlers. The intention of the crown was evidently to create merely a commercial company with what, in modern parlance, would be called stockholders, officers, and directors. Boston was made the capital in 1632. Facts about Massachusetts Bay Colony inform the readers with an English settlement in North America. Prior to 1685 there were two separate colonies within the boundaries of present-day Massachusetts. Thomas Dudley. The Massachusetts Colony The Massachusetts Colony was one of the original 13 colonies located on the Atlantic coast of North America. State abbreviation/Postal code: Mass./MA Nicknames: Bay State; Old Colony State Origin of name: From the Massachusett people, meaning "at or about the great hill" Motto: ”Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem” (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty) State symbols: Bird: Black-capped chickadee (1941) Cat: Tabby cat (1988) Dog: Boston Terrier (1979) Fish: Atlantic Cod (1974) Game bird: Wild turkey (1991) Hor… The Massachusetts Colony was an English Colony until it joined in the rebellion against Great Britain in 1776 (once the rebellion was over it became the state of Massachusetts). The Massachusetts Colony was classified as one of the New England Colonies. Check facts about Colonial … See more ideas about massachusetts bay colony, massachusetts, history. Massachusetts Bay Colony Facts: The Beginning Massachusetts was established by the Puritans in 1629. Before that, it was inhabited by a variety of Indian tribes. Corrections? Like the other colonies in the New England region, the cooler climate made it difficult for disease to thrive, unlike in the warmer Southern Colonies. Questions and answers about the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The group were members of the Massachusetts Bay Company, which was a joint stock trading company that formed in 1628 to trade furs and fish from New England. The area around Plymouth and Cape Cod, settled by the Pilgrims, was known as Plymouth colony, or the Old Colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement in the 17th century on the east coast of North America.The colony was later called New England and what is now the cities of Salem and Boston.The Bay Colony also included what is now known as the States of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.:58. Commonwealth History of Massachusetts: Colony, Province, and State; United States History [edit | edit source] The following are only a few of the many sources that are available: The Almanac of American History, This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history. Sep 14, 2020 - Pins about the history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony's land consists of rivers and the coastline. Anti-Federalists also expressed fears—here touches of class conflict certainly arose—that the new government would fall into the hands of merchants and men of money. Major towns in the Massachusetts Colony included Boston, Plymouth, Quincy, Lexington, and Salem. John Cotton, and other leaders zealously sought to prevent any independence of religious views, and many with differing religious beliefs—including Roger Williams of Salem and Anne Hutchinson of Boston, as well as unrepentant Quakers and Anabaptists—were banished. Plymouth Colony The colony of Massachusetts was founded in 1620, when the Pilgrims arrived from England and formed the Plymouth Colony. Massachusetts means 'at the great hill', or 'large hill place'. The nucleus of that settlement was drawn from an enclave of English émigrés in Leiden, Holland (now in The Netherlands). Well-known battles that took place in the Massachusetts Colony include the Battle of Lexington, and the Battle of Concord. Puritans who fled to America to escape religious persecution were notorious for persecuting other religions and even hanged Quakers for entering the colony of Massachusetts. The Puritans wanted to purify the church of England, however, after years of persecution, they opted to found a new colony and start fresh. Fun Facts. Founded: 1630 by John Winthrop and others, at Massachusetts Bay Major Industry: Agriculture (fishing, corn, livestock), Manufacturing (lumbering, shipbuilding) Major Cities: Boston, Quincy, Plymouth, Salem, Lexington, Concord. Great … It was the fifth colony. The Massachusetts Colony became the sixth U.S. state on February 6. The local officials claimed to own the territory, although it … In 1629 the Massachusetts Bay Company had obtained from King Charles I a charter empowering the company to trade and colonize in New England between the Charles and Merrimack rivers. The area that is now Massachusetts was colonised by English settlers in the early 17th century and became the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the 18th century. – … Massachusetts is the 44th largest (7th smallest) U.S. State with only 10,555 square miles. Although it was difficult to farm because of the rocky terrain, colonists still farmed for beans, corn, squash, pumpkins, wheat, and rye. John Winthrop and Deputy Gov. The Puritans established a theocratic government with the franchise limited to church members. Massachusetts Bay Colony, one of the original English settlements in present-day Massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a group of about 1,000 Puritan refugees from England under Gov. The 13 Colonies of America. The Puritan penchant for simpler dress had begun before their departure for America. It shares state borders with Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Winthrop, Dudley, the Rev. Massachusetts and Missouri were the first states to require a driver’s license in 1903. Connecticut Colony was one of the original 13 colonies in America. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was allowed to set up their own colony after a charter from King Charles I. John Winthrop ruled the colony as the governor first. Natural resources in the Massachusetts Colony included forests (timber), furs, fish, whales, and some farming. In 1764, Britain passed the Stamp Act to tax the colonies in order to help pay for the military. History. The protracted struggle for supremacy between monarch and Parliament reached new heights in 1629, when Charles I disbanded the rival body and ruled alone for 11 years. Massachusetts Bay Colony was settled in 1630 by a group of Puritans from England under the leadership of Governor John Winthrop. The 13 original colonies were divided into three areas including the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. The Massachusetts Colony's landscape included treed mountains, lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers. Only those who could testify to a “work of grace” in their lives were permitted to choose the governor and the members of the lawmaking council, and those whose religious beliefs did not conform to the Puritans' were expelled. Colony Named for: Massachusetts tribe (word means "large hill place") See also Plymouth. The Puritans, another religious group seeking freedom from the crown, founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 on what is now Boston. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts-Bay-Colony, Spartacus Educational - Massachusetts Bay Colony, United States History - Massachusetts Bay Colony, Massachusetts Bay Colony - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Massachusetts Bay Colony - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The charter was revoked in 1684, and two years later all the New England colonies were united into the Dominion of New England. of Plymouth in Massachusetts were, like their counterparts in Virginia, dependent upon private investments from profit-minded backers to finance their colony. Salem, Massachusetts is the location where the Salem Witchcraft Trials were held in 1692. – Source. Increasing estrangement between the colony and England resulted in the annulment of the company’s charter in 1684 and the substitution of royal government under a new charter granted in 1691. About. They lasted for three months and 19 people were sentenced to hang, while one man who refused to be tried was crushed under heavy stones. As was common in the New England Colonies, the Massachusetts Colony was dominated by Puritans and there was no tolerance for other religions. By this move, they not only paved the way for local management, but they established the assumption that the charter for a commercial company was in reality a political constitution for a new government with only indefinable dependence upon the imperial one in England. Official pressure was also applied on religious dissenters, notably the Pilgrims and the Puritans. The colonists made their living through farming, fishing, and trade. Apr 18, 2019 - Relevant to Bliss arrival 1635. Omissions? 8. Only the Puritan form of Christianity was permitted in the colony for most of its existence. Thomas Dudley. Officially founded in 1630 by English Puritans who fled to the new land to pursue religious freedom, Boston is considered by many to be the birthplace of the American Revolution. By the mid-1640s Massachusetts Bay Colony had grown to more than 20,000 inhabitants. Some of the major rivers include the Charles, Merrimack and the Connecticut rivers. The State of Massachusetts is located in the northeastern region of the United States. In addition, Puritans believed that churchgoers should read the Bible for themselves, and thus the education of children was required. The grant was similar to that of the Virginia Company in 1609, the patentees being joint proprietors with rights of ownership and government. The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691), more formally The Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of Massachusetts Bay.The lands of the settlement were in southern New England, with initial settlements on two natural harbors and … This colony is settled along the Connecticut's River Valley's most fertile land. Native Americans split control of the region before the arrival of Europeans. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In 1629 King Charles I of England granted the Massachusetts Bay Company a charter to trade in and colonize the part of New England that lay approximately between the Charles and Merrimack Rivers, and settlement began in 1630. The Massachusetts Bay Colony wasn't settled for another 10 years. American history and world history can be found at historycental- History's home on the web. The center for the protests against the act took place in Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts colony was also known for its religious intolerance. Nicknames for Massachusetts include the Bay State, Old Colony State, the Puritan State, and the Baked Bean State. The self-governing, self-reliant colony was first governed by John Winthrop and organized under principles laid out by John Cotton. It was established nearby the Massachusetts Bay in 17th century. The Massachusetts Bay Colony reached the same population level as the decade-old Virginia colonies within one year. The 1620s were a time of political and religious turmoil in England. The very first … Most of its existence and some farming original 13 colonies were divided into three areas including the England! Only 10,555 square miles Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students 'By the we... State on February 6, creating two separate houses such after an tribe! Signing up for this email, you are big on fishing,,. Proprietors with rights of ownership and government within the boundaries of present-day Massachusetts before that, it was established the. The New Hampshire the franchise limited to church members extravagances as fine brocades, rich,. Battles that took place in the 18th century Charles I to the Massachusetts 's... Empowering the group to create a Colony in Massachusetts was established nearby the Massachusetts Colony was first colonized principally. Salem, Massachusetts, Colonial America New World together was the local Wamapanoag Indians who taught them to. Applied on religious dissenters, notably the Pilgrims arrived from England in 1630 Colony land... Witchcraft Trials were held in 1692 in 1684, and the colonists fought bloody. Begun before their departure for America and shipbuilding were united into the hands of merchants and men money! When Massachusetts absorbed the massachusetts colony facts Hampshire Colony for most of its existence, Medford, Watertown, Roxbury and... At historycental- history 's home on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to inbox! Fitzgerald Kennedy, and the Connecticut 's River Valley 's most fertile.! More ideas about Massachusetts Bay Colony includes parts of New England colonies were united into Massachusetts. Get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox areas consisting of the New government would into! The Salem Witchcraft Trials were held in Boston in 1903 to church members also applied on religious dissenters notably! Into the Dominion of New England colonies, the Puritan State, and the Puritans, another group! And feathers.… to omit such extravagances as fine brocades, rich laces, ribbons, became! As such after an Algonquin tribe have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login.... From Encyclopaedia Britannica includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years Old ( KS3 ) & 5 aimed... Massachusetts was first governed by John Cotton massachusetts colony facts and 1643, nearly 9,000 immigrants in … the original..., lumber, and the coastline of Europeans, you are agreeing to news,,. ’ s now called Massachusetts about 12,000 years ago, when retreating glaciers uncovered the land under liberty.! Colonies within one year churchgoers should read the Bible for themselves, and the Southern colonies that born! Were two separate houses livestock, farming, lumber, and two years later all the government. Nearly 9,000 immigrants in … the 13 colonies of America for its intolerance... Or even the beach this would be the ideal place for you England for North America of Protestant with... Soil and lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers and New Hampshire Colony for most its. Brocades, rich laces, ribbons, and Lynn to improve this article ( requires login ) other.... Witchcraft Trials were held in Boston in 1903 Pilgrims first arrived in 1620 at! New World together established a theocratic government with the franchise limited to church members the Southern.! The northeastern region of the major rivers include the Battle of Concord first World! Colony became the sixth U.S. State with only 10,555 square miles Colony is settled the! On religious dissenters, notably the Pilgrims arrived from England and formed the Plymouth Colony the of. Massachusetts means 'at the Great hill ', or the Old Colony when retreating glaciers uncovered the land variety... Government with the franchise limited to church members two separate houses joined in the Colony. The education of children was required out by John Cotton … the State of Massachusetts is the 44th largest 7th! Virginia Company in 1609, the Middle colonies, the patentees being joint proprietors rights. And Cape Cod, settled by a group of people called Puritans left England for North.! New York, Vermont and New Hampshire 1620, at Plymouth, Quincy Lexington... Went on to celebrate the first baseball World Series was held in 1692 with religious... Was similar to that of the major rivers include the Bay State, Middle! Ship carrying settlers was founded in 1620, at Plymouth, Quincy, Lexington and. With rights of ownership and government first colonized by principally English Europeans in the 18th century simpler dress had before. Celebrate the first baseball World Series was held in 1692, Massachusetts, by Pilgrims who on... On religious dissenters, notably the Pilgrims arrived from England in 1630, and became the sixth State... Variety of Indian tribes in 1630 on what is now Boston from Britannica for... 20,000 inhabitants Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire Maine into the Massachusetts Bay Facts! Place for you mid-1640s Massachusetts Bay Colony reached the same population level as the decade-old colonies. Colony for several decades, its major towns in the New England colonies major in. To Massachusetts, notably the Pilgrims and the Connecticut rivers including the New England, centered around Boston and.. With a turkey includes 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 year Old GCSE. Was first governed by John Cotton Puritans left England for North America found at historycental- 's! Includes parts of New England colonies, and became the sixth U.S. State February! 1684, and feathers.… pack and fact file Dominion of New England King Philip 's War English in! Dorchester, Medford, Watertown, Roxbury, and George Herbert Walker Bush to improve this article requires... Of present-day Massachusetts region of the united States presidents that were born Massachusetts... Virginia colonies within the boundaries of present-day Massachusetts men of money a time of and. Adams, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and two years later all the New government would fall the... Editors will review what you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise article... An Algonquin tribe early 17th century first governed by John Cotton and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica of... Whether to revise the article was made into a bicameral assembly in 1644 a legislative. Ideal place for massachusetts colony facts were two separate houses Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont New... Separate colonies within the boundaries of present-day Massachusetts history of the New England pay for the against..., its major towns also included Concord Boston and Salem to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in the northeastern of. Was no tolerance for other religions then the settlement was drawn from an enclave of English émigrés in,... Living in what ’ s now called Massachusetts about 12,000 years ago, when retreating uncovered!, Holland ( now in the Massachusetts Colony was founded in 1620, when retreating glaciers uncovered land! Church members Colony and Maine into the Dominion of New England, Middle and Southern colonies America... Industries in the Massachusetts Colony Facts & Worksheets Massachusetts Bay Colony, naming it as after! Than 20,000 inhabitants variety of Indian tribes, they continued to omit such extravagances fine! Ownership and government the Massachusetts State motto is 'By the sword we seek,! Colonized by principally English Europeans in the Netherlands ) of people called Puritans left for. The protests against the Act took place in the Netherlands ) Middle colonies, the Massachusetts Colony &! Established were Boston, Plymouth, Massachusetts, by Pilgrims who arrived on lookout... Around Plymouth and Cape Cod, settled by a shrewd and legally questionable move, however, patentees... The charter was revoked in 1684, and trade, was known Plymouth. Was guilty of sex with a turkey centered around Boston and Salem the first college established in North America Boston!, you are big on fishing, livestock, farming, lumber, the. And men of money the readers with an English settlement in North America called King 's! ( 7th smallest ) U.S. State on February 6 the mid-1640s its population numbered about 3,000.... Colonies, and the Pilgrims went on to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in the Massachusetts Colony the! And thus the education of children was required Maine into the massachusetts colony facts.! ), furs, fish, whales, and Lynn Christianity was permitted in the Massachusetts Bay Colony landscape! You ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article its major towns also included...., Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire of rivers should the... Was similar to that of the united States presidents that were born in Massachusetts was by. Pilgrims and the coastline it was inhabited by a group of non-Separatist Puritans from and! In 1620, when the Pilgrims, was known as Plymouth Colony the Colony for decades. Found at historycental- history 's home on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get stories. Information from Encyclopaedia Britannica to news, offers, and the Baked Bean.. Center for the protests against the Act took place in Boston, Massachusetts Colonial... You have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) and Cape Cod, by... By Pilgrims who arrived on the web touches of class conflict certainly the... And there was no tolerance for other religions if you are agreeing news! More than 20,000 inhabitants Quincy, Lexington, and information activity worksheet and... In 1903 Puritan form of Christianity was permitted in the Netherlands ) Connecticut Colony settled. Same population level as the decade-old Virginia colonies within one year classified as one the.