Presentation Transcript

1. Colonial Massachusetts

2. Map of Colonial Massachusetts
3. Political History
4. Political History Massachusetts was one of the original English settlements founded in 1629. The colony was founded by religious dissenters from England. Before the colony established a government it was mostly self-governed. John Winthrop was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The colonists established a theocratic government made up of only church members. The colony was established as a royal colony, the original settlers were granted a royal charter from King Charles I that empowered the colony to trade and colonize in New England between the Charles and Merrimack rivers.
5. Economic History
6. Economic History A market economy dominated the early years of colonial Massachusetts. Fishing Shipbuilding The capital, Boston, was an important commercial port and a leading center of foreign commerce.
7. Social History
8. Black History in Colonial Massachusetts In 1641, Massachusetts Bay was the first colony to legalize slavery, but it was still widely practiced before legalization. Massachusetts Bay had one of the largest slave populations of that era. Massachusetts had a problem with masters who simply turned out their slaves when they grew too old or too feeble to work. Masters were forced to keep their old slaves or they were forced to pay a bond of 50 pounds for every slave. Black children were given away like kittens or puppies. There was no law against this.
9. Women’s History
10. Women’s History in Colonial Massachusetts Anne Hutchinson – Banished from Massachusetts Bay due to her opinions on religion. Group of followers called Antinomians. Believed that human activity cannot help one achieve salvation and believed that personal behavior was indicative of one’s status of salvation. Women’s roles: Household Needs Spinning Poultry/Dairy Pig sausage and lye soap Expected to have knowledge on first-aid and medicine Seasonal Tasks Fall – Apple Butter/Cider Spring – Gardening Summer – Made cheese
11. Religion
12. Religion In colonial Massachusetts Puritanism was the prominent religion. Believed that the Bible was God’s true law and the in provided a plan for living. Stripped away the traditional trappings and formalities of Christianity to make their lives and their church more pure. Not much had changed by the mid-17th century.
13. Salem Witch Trials In early 1692, people began to believe that witchcraft was becoming more prominent in their colony. Many women and some men were tried for witchcraft, with the frenzy of executions ending a year later in 1693.
14. The Great Awakening Started in Massachusetts in 1734 with Jonathan Edwards. Response to the Half-Way covenant. Half members outstripped members in full communion. Half membership was socially acceptable. Impacted Massachusetts by increasing their population and reviving the spirit of religion.