Massachusetts

(Period: Early America)

Synopsis:

For a brief synopsis of the history of this time and period: Click Here.

Historical synopsis courtesy of A Hypertext on American History from the colonial period until Modern Times by Department of Humanities Computing, University of Groningen, The Netherlands and the former United States Information Agency (1953-1999).

Key Facts:

• The Native American Indians played a critical role in the survival of European settlers.
• Much of the settlement patterns were a result of religious groups seeking varying levels of religious involvement in their social structures.

Key Events:

• Roger Williams' colony in Providence, Rhode Island was the first "American" colony in its separation of church and state.

Key People:

• Puritans - a group of Christians e who sought to reform the church of England to something more Protestant.
• Separatists - radical Puritans who emigrated to the New World
• Roger Williams - banned from Massachusetts Bay Colony, he established a colony in Providence, Rhode Island.

Key Places:

• Plymouth Harbor - harbor in Massachusetts where the Mayflower
• Massachusetts Bay Colony - colony in New England established by puritans

Vocabulary:

• Mayflower Compact - an agreement among the pilgrims to abide by equal and just laws in their newly founded society.