Massachusetts Bay Colony facts for kids
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement started in North America in the early 1600s. It was located on the east coast, in what is now the United States. This colony eventually grew to include areas that are now the states of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
The colony was founded by English settlers who wanted to create a new society. They were led by John Winthrop, who worked hard to make the colony successful. These settlers believed the Church of England needed to be improved, and they hoped to do this in the New World.
Two main groups helped bring settlers to this new land. The first, called the Dorchester Company, didn't succeed. But the second group, formed in 1628, became the successful Massachusetts Bay Colony. This effort brought about 20,000 people to the colony.
At first, the colonists and the Native Americans living there had a good relationship. However, as more Europeans arrived, disagreements over land began. These differences led to wars, like the Pequot War (1636–1638) and King Philip's War (1675–1676). After these conflicts, some Native Americans became peaceful, while others moved to different areas.
The colony became quite successful, making money by trading with England and the West Indies. In 1686, there was a civil war in England. King James II wanted to have more control over all the colonies. After this war, the Massachusetts Bay Colony remained mostly the same until 1692. At that time, it joined with the Plymouth Colony to form a larger colony. The colonists had a say in their government and how money was spent.
Early Settlements in New England
Long before the English arrived, many Native American tribes lived in this area. They farmed and hunted within their own lands. They respected each other's territories. In the early 1600s, explorers like Samuel de Champlain and John Smith created maps of the region.
Life was very tough for the first English settlers. Many became sick and died during the cold winters. There wasn't enough food, and some people decided to return to England after just one year. For a while, there wasn't much talk about new settlements in this part of America. However, English ships still came to the New England area for fishing and trading with the Native Americans.
The Plymouth Colony
In November 1620, another group of Europeans arrived and started the Plymouth Colony. Other attempts to settle nearby failed. Those settlers either joined Plymouth, went back to England, or moved to other close areas.
The people of Plymouth faced many challenges in their first years. They struggled to pay back the people who had invested money in their journey. By 1627, the companies that funded them left the colonists to manage on their own. Two of Plymouth's leaders, Edward Winslow and William Bradford, wrote about their journey on the Mayflower and the colony they built. Their book, Mourt's Relation, was published in England in 1622. They wrote it to encourage more people to come and live in the New World.
Images for kids
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John Winthrop led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630. He was governor for 12 of the colony's first 20 years.
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The Dominion of New England in 1688. This was a larger government created by the English king to control several colonies.
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The Fairbanks House, built in 1641, is a very old home with wooden siding.
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Salem Common was set up as a village green in 1667.
See also
In Spanish: Colonia de la bahía de Massachusetts para niños
