Charter colony facts for kids

A charter colony was a special kind of colony in North America during the 1600s. The King of England gave these colonies a special document called a "charter." This charter was like a rulebook or a permission slip. It explained how the colony would be governed and what rights the colonists had.

There were three main types of English colonies:

• Charter colonies: These had a lot of freedom because their rules came from a charter.
• Proprietary colonies: These were owned by individuals or groups who had been given land by the King.
• Royal colonies: These were directly controlled by the King.

Sometimes, the King could take away a colony's charter. If this happened, the colony would usually become a royal colony, meaning the King had more direct control. Colonies like Virginia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Bay were all charter colonies at different times. Rhode Island and Connecticut were known for having charters that gave their people a lot of political freedom. In fact, after the American Revolution, these two colonies continued to use their old colonial charters as their state constitutions!

Massachusetts Bay Colony: A Puritan Adventure

In 1628, a group of Puritan businessmen decided to invest in the American colonies. They formed a company called the "Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay." They got a land grant from the Council of New England, which gave them rights to a large area between the Charles and Merrimack rivers, stretching all the way west to the Pacific Ocean. To make sure their big plan was protected, the Puritans asked the King of England for a special charter.

In 1629, these businessmen signed the Cambridge Agreement. This agreement meant they would sail across the Atlantic Ocean and take full control of the charter and the new colony. This was a big step towards making Massachusetts a place where political power was held by strict Puritan believers. However, in 1684, the King took away their royal charter. This separated the Massachusetts Bay company from the colony itself. Later, in 1691, the Plymouth Colony and Maine became part of Massachusetts Bay under a new royal charter.

Rhode Island: A Haven for Freedom

Rhode Island became a permanent settlement for European colonists in 1636. It was started by people who had left the Massachusetts Bay Colony because they wanted more freedom to worship as they pleased. Roger Williams was a leader of this group. He bought land from Native Americans and founded the town of Providence. Other early towns in Rhode Island included Portsmouth (1638), Newport (1639), and Warwick (1642).

Since these towns were only recognized by Native American land deeds, nearby colonies started to notice them. To protect their small haven, Roger Williams got a special document from England between 1643 and 1644. Rhode Island was a charter colony. In the early 1660s, John Clarke was given the important job of getting a new charter from King Charles II. This charter would protect the colony from larger neighbors and keep the religious freedom that was so important to Rhode Island. The colony received the royal charter of 1663. This charter was very generous for its time. It not only gave Rhode Island the religious freedom it wanted but also allowed the colony to govern itself and gave it a stronger claim to its territory.

Connecticut: A Self-Governing Colony

Connecticut did not receive its royal charter until 1662. John Winthrop the Younger suggested the charter, and King Charles II granted it. Before this, the people of Connecticut had only made land deals with the Native Americans. England did not officially recognize these land claims. The new charter gave Connecticut a lot of independent power. The only limits were the boundaries set by English law. While Connecticut could create its own laws, they could not go against the rules set by the English government.

The charter also tried to include the New Haven Colony. This caused some problems because New Haven did not want to be controlled by Connecticut. However, when it seemed like New York might try to take over New Haven, New Haven finally agreed to join Connecticut. Many people who wanted to stay independent from Connecticut moved to New Jersey instead. Connecticut kept its liberal charter from England even after a conflict with King James II.