Massachusetts Charter facts for kids
| The charter granted by Their Majeſties King William and Queen Mary to the inhabitants of the province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay, in New England | |
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Royal Coat of Arms of King William III and Queen Mary II
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| Type | Royal Charter, Land Grant |
| Context | British colonization of the Americas Glorious Revolution Dissolution of the Dominion of New England |
| Signed | October 7, 1691 |
| Location | Westminster |
| Expiration | October 25, 1780 |
| Signatories | Sir George Hutchins Sir William Rawlinson Sir John Trevor |
| Language | English |
The Massachusetts Charter of 1691 was a special document from the King and Queen of England. It officially created the Province of Massachusetts Bay, a large English colony in North America. This charter was issued by King William III and Queen Mary II.
The charter combined lands from the old Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony. It also included parts of what was then the Province of New York. The new colony's territory covered all of present-day Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
This important document was approved on October 7, 1691. It gave England more control over the colony. For example, the King and Queen would now choose the governor, deputy governor, and secretary. This was a big change because Massachusetts and Plymouth had previously enjoyed more self-rule. The charter also allowed Christians to worship freely, but it did not include Roman Catholics. It also removed religious rules for voting, meaning more men could vote if they owned property.
Contents
How the Charter Came to Be
End of the Dominion of New England
Before the 1691 Charter, England tried to group several North American colonies into one big area called the Dominion of New England. This included Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. However, this plan didn't work out.
The Dominion fell apart after the Glorious Revolution in England and a local uprising in Boston in 1689. After the Dominion ended, the English Crown decided to combine some colonies around New England. This specifically included the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, and islands like Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Creating the New Charter
Many colonies were worried about their future after the Dominion broke up. For instance, the Plymouth Colony was almost given to the Colony of New York. But Plymouth leaders strongly pushed to become part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony instead.
A first draft of the new charter was made. It suggested that the King would choose the Royal Governor. However, the Governor's Council, Deputy Governor, and the lower house of the General Court would be elected by the colonists. England's Privy Council (a group of royal advisors) rejected these ideas. They felt it gave too much power to the colonists and reduced the King's authority.
In 1692, William Phips arrived in Boston with the final version of the new charter. This charter had been written by the Privy Council. Many people in Massachusetts Bay were unhappy because they wanted to go back to their original 1629 charter. Other colonies had been allowed to do this. Despite some opposition, when Governor Phips arrived, he gathered the General Court. Most members approved the charter and declared a day of prayer and thanksgiving to celebrate.
Changes and Impact of the Charter
New Rules for the Colony
The 1691 Charter brought several important changes to the colony. The General Court in Boston gained control over a larger area of land. There were also big "constitutional" changes, meaning changes to how the government worked.
One major change was about voting rights. Before, only church members could vote. The new charter changed this to a property requirement. This meant more men could vote if they owned a certain amount of property, which expanded the number of eligible voters.
The lower house of the General Court remained in place. It could still pass laws and make government decisions. However, the Royal Governor now had the power to veto, or reject, any laws passed by the General Court.
Governor's Council and Power
The upper house of the legislature was officially named the Governor's Council. Before, it was called the "Board of Assistants." The members of this council were chosen by the General Court, but the Governor had to agree to their selection.
The General Court was given control over most of the colony's affairs. However, matters related to shipping and trade remained under the control of Royal Officers. These officers were appointed directly by the King. The Governor was put in charge of the militia (the local army). But the House of Representatives had to agree to any officers being appointed to lead the militia.
The General Court also controlled the colony's money, including the Governor's salary and the pay for all royal officers. This created tension between the General Court and the Governor. Because the General Court controlled the money, the Royal Governor's power was limited in many ways. He acted more like a head of state (a symbolic leader) than a head of government (someone with real power to make decisions).
Leading to Revolution
Over time, many colonists became unhappy with this government setup. This dissatisfaction grew, especially after the Parliament of England passed a series of laws known as the Intolerable Acts. These acts further angered the colonists.
The political tension reached a peak with the Boston Tea Party. As a result, Thomas Gage, the British military governor, tried to cancel and dissolve the General Court. However, the members of the General Court argued that the 1691 Charter gave them their authority. They did not accept Gage's actions as legal.
In 1774, the delegates of the General Court met and formed the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. This Provincial Congress became the revolutionary government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The 1691 Charter acted as the de facto (in practice) constitution for Massachusetts Bay. This continued until the Constitution of Massachusetts was written and approved in 1780, officially replacing the old charter.
Images for kids
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Portrait of William Phips who served as the Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay and who brought the 1691 Charter to New England from London
