State abbreviation/Postal code: Mass./MA Nicknames: Bay State; Old Colony State Origin of name: From the Massachusett people, meaning "at or about the great hill" Motto: ”Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem” (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty) State symbols: Bird: Black-capped chickadee (1941) Cat: Tabby cat (1988) Dog: Boston Terrier (1979) Fish: Atlantic Cod (1974) Game bird: Wild turkey (1991) Hor… Although it was difficult to farm because of the rocky terrain, colonists still farmed for beans, corn, squash, pumpkins, wheat, and rye. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). of Plymouth in Massachusetts were, like their counterparts in Virginia, dependent upon private investments from profit-minded backers to finance their colony. The History of Boston, Massachusetts From 1630-1795 One of America’s most historically rich cities, the story of our nation is evident on nearly every corner in Boston. The charter was revoked in 1684, and two years later all the New England colonies were united into the Dominion of New England. Having moved overseas, they continued to omit such extravagances as fine brocades, rich laces, ribbons, and feathers.…. The self-governing, self-reliant colony was first governed by John Winthrop and organized under principles laid out by John Cotton. The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691), more formally The Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of Massachusetts Bay.The lands of the settlement were in southern New England, with initial settlements on two natural harbors and … Massachusetts Colony Facts The Massachusetts Colony was one of the original 13 colonies in America. Sep 14, 2020 - Pins about the history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Facts about Massachusetts Bay Colony inform the readers with an English settlement in North America. A new charter was issued in 1691 that joined the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, and the Maine Colony as the Province of Massachusetts Bay and placed it under a royal governor. History. The climate in the Massachusetts Colony included long, cold winters and mild summers. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Massachusetts means 'at the great hill', or 'large hill place'. The Massachusetts Colony was one of four colonies that made up the New England Colonies, which also included the New Hampshire Colony, the Connecticut Colony, and the Rhode Island Colony. Although the Pilgrims were ravaged by disease and hunger, they managed to write the Mayflower Compact, a local government that established rules and regulations in order to ensure the colony's survival. Between 1675 and 1677 the Indians and the colonists fought a bloody battle called King Philip's War. Winthrop, Dudley, the Rev. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement in the 17th century on the east coast of North America.The colony was later called New England and what is now the cities of Salem and Boston.The Bay Colony also included what is now known as the States of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.:58. Massachusetts's coast is jagged. The grant was similar to that of the Virginia Company in 1609, the patentees being joint proprietors with rights of ownership and government. Massachusetts Bay Colony Facts: The Beginning Massachusetts was established by the Puritans in 1629. Major industries in the Massachusetts Colony included fishing, livestock, farming, lumber, and shipbuilding. Massachusetts Bay Colony was settled in 1630 by a group of Puritans from England under the leadership of Governor John Winthrop. Official pressure was also applied on religious dissenters, notably the Pilgrims and the Puritans. . Massachusetts Bay Colony includes parts of New England, centered around Boston and Salem. Massachusetts Bay Colony, one of the original English settlements in present-day Massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a group of about 1,000 Puritan refugees from England under Gov. The grant empowering the group to create a colony in Massachusetts was granted by King Charles I to the Massachusetts Bay Company. The protracted struggle for supremacy between monarch and Parliament reached new heights in 1629, when Charles I disbanded the rival body and ruled alone for 11 years. In addition, Puritans believed that churchgoers should read the Bible for themselves, and thus the education of children was required. Then, in 1634, General Court ruled to create a representative legislative body-a bi-cameral legislature, creating two separate houses. Among the communities that the Puritans established were Boston, Charlestown, Dorchester, Medford, Watertown, Roxbury, and Lynn. The Puritan penchant for simpler dress had begun before their departure for America. The Massachusetts state motto is 'By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty'. The Puritans who settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony intended to set up a society that would accord with what they believed to be God’s wishes. The area around Plymouth and Cape Cod, settled by the Pilgrims, was known as Plymouth colony, or the Old Colony. The Massachusetts Colony was founded in 1630, and existed until 1776 when it joined in the fight for independence against Great Britain. Officially founded in 1630 by English Puritans who fled to the new land to pursue religious freedom, Boston is considered by many to be the birthplace of the American Revolution. Facts about Connecticut Colony 8: the original colonies. The Puritans wanted to purify the church of England, however, after years of persecution, they opted to found a new colony and start fresh. The colonists made their living through farming, fishing, and trade. These religious Separatists believed that the true…, …as Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts, where the economy was relatively successful and many people saw little need for such extreme remedies. When the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620 it was the local Wamapanoag Indians who taught them how to plant crops. See also Plymouth. Salem, Massachusetts is the location where the Salem Witchcraft Trials were held in 1692. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts-Bay-Colony, Spartacus Educational - Massachusetts Bay Colony, United States History - Massachusetts Bay Colony, Massachusetts Bay Colony - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Massachusetts Bay Colony - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). They lasted for three months and 19 people were sentenced to hang, while one man who refused to be tried was crushed under heavy stones. The local officials claimed to own the territory, although it … It was founded and developed by Puritans, religious reformers who sought to 'purify' the policies and practices of the Anglican Church of Catholic … The Atlantic ocean feeds into the Massachusetts bay, which makes trade with neighboring colonies simpler and more efficient. Corrections? Only those who could testify to a “work of grace” in their lives were permitted to choose the governor and the members of the lawmaking council, and those whose religious beliefs did not conform to the Puritans' were expelled. Before that, it was inhabited by a variety of Indian tribes. Connecticut Colony was one of the original 13 colonies in America. The General Court was made into a bicameral assembly in 1644. About. Massachusetts Bay Colony. People started living in what’s now called Massachusetts about 12,000 years ago, when retreating glaciers uncovered the land. By the mid-1640s its population numbered about 3,000 people. Omissions? The Massachusetts Colony was one of the original 13 colonies in America. In 1630 a group of people called Puritans left England for North America. Natural resources in the Massachusetts Colony included forests (timber), furs, fish, whales, and some farming. Colony Named for: Massachusetts tribe (word means "large hill place") Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, by Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower, a ship carrying settlers. Massachusetts Bay Colony, one of the original English settlements in present-day Massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a group of about 1,000 Puritan refugees from England under Gov. The charter of 1691 merged the Plymouth colony and Maine into the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Nicknames for Massachusetts include the Bay State, Old Colony State, the Puritan State, and the Baked Bean State. As the colony of Massachusetts began to grow, the people became more independent minded. Massachusetts is the 44th largest (7th smallest) U.S. State with only 10,555 square miles. It shares state borders with Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. The Massachusetts Colony The Massachusetts Colony was one of the original 13 colonies located on the Atlantic coast of North America. John Winthrop and Deputy Gov. 9. – … So if you are big on fishing, sailing, or even the beach this would be the ideal place for you. See more ideas about massachusetts bay colony, massachusetts, history. The Massachusetts Colony was classified as one of the New England Colonies. The Puritans were much different from the … The 13 original colonies were divided into three areas including the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Massachusetts Bay Colony Facts & Worksheets Massachusetts Bay Colony facts and information activity worksheet pack and fact file. Puritans who fled to America to escape religious persecution were notorious for persecuting other religions and even hanged Quakers for entering the colony of Massachusetts. Commonwealth History of Massachusetts: Colony, Province, and State; United States History [edit | edit source] The following are only a few of the many sources that are available: The Almanac of American History, This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history. The 13 original colonies were divided into three areas including the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. In 1629 the Massachusetts Bay Company had obtained from King Charles I a charter empowering the company to trade and colonize in New England between the Charles and Merrimack rivers. Harvard was the first college established in North America. One of the original 13 colonies and one of the six New England states, Massachusetts is known for being the landing place of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Only the Puritan form of Christianity was permitted in the colony for most of its existence. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The Massachusetts Bay Colony's land consists of rivers and the coastline. The Massachusetts Colony was an English Colony until it joined in the rebellion against Great Britain in 1776 (once the rebellion was over it became the state of Massachusetts). Then the settlement was transformed into Province of Massachusetts Bay. One of early America’s most famous and successful colonies was at Plymouth, which was founded by the Pilgrims who sailed from England on the Mayflower in 1620. Massachusetts was first colonized by principally English Europeans in the early 17th century, and became the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the 18th century. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was a settlement established by the English along the east coast of North America during the seventeenth century; it is the area which is known as present-day Boston along with parts of Salem. The intention of the crown was evidently to create merely a commercial company with what, in modern parlance, would be called stockholders, officers, and directors. The Massachusetts Bay colony was settled by a group of non-Separatist Puritans from England in 1630. When Massachusetts absorbed the New Hampshire Colony for several decades, its major towns also included Concord. The other industries in the colony were livestock products, whiskey, beer, rum, horses, maple syrups, furs and timber products. The Puritans were a group of Protestant Christians with strict religious beliefs. 8. Founded: 1630 by John Winthrop and others, at Massachusetts Bay Major Industry: Agriculture (fishing, corn, livestock), Manufacturing (lumbering, shipbuilding) Major Cities: Boston, Quincy, Plymouth, Salem, Lexington, Concord. Many good republicans detected…, …Cavalier; Puritan ideas prevailed in Massachusetts. The area that is now Massachusetts was colonised by English settlers in the early 17th century and became the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the 18th century. Major towns in the Massachusetts Colony included Boston, Plymouth, Quincy, Lexington, and Salem. Anti-Federalists also expressed fears—here touches of class conflict certainly arose—that the new government would fall into the hands of merchants and men of money. The first person to be executed in the Massachusetts Bay colony was guilty of sex with a turkey. Prior to 1685 there were two separate colonies within the boundaries of present-day Massachusetts. Plymouth Colony The colony of Massachusetts was founded in 1620, when the Pilgrims arrived from England and formed the Plymouth Colony. By this move, they not only paved the way for local management, but they established the assumption that the charter for a commercial company was in reality a political constitution for a new government with only indefinable dependence upon the imperial one in England. Boston was made the capital in 1632. The nucleus of that settlement was drawn from an enclave of English émigrés in Leiden, Holland (now in The Netherlands). They disagreed with some practices of England’s official church, the Church of … Thomas Dudley. The Indians and the Pilgrims went on to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in the New World together. Thomas Dudley. Native Americans split control of the region before the arrival of Europeans. It is believed that at … It was established nearby the Massachusetts Bay in 17th century. Massachusetts and Missouri were the first states to require a driver’s license in 1903. The center for the protests against the act took place in Boston, Massachusetts. The first public school in North America, the Boston Latin School, was established in Boston in 1635, and Harvard University was founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636. Apr 18, 2019 - Relevant to Bliss arrival 1635. The Massachusetts colony was also known for its religious intolerance. See more ideas about Massachusetts bay colony, Massachusetts, Colonial america. The original 13 colonies were divided into three geographic areas consisting of the New England, Middle and Southern colonies. John Cotton, and other leaders zealously sought to prevent any independence of religious views, and many with differing religious beliefs—including Roger Williams of Salem and Anne Hutchinson of Boston, as well as unrepentant Quakers and Anabaptists—were banished. This colony is settled along the Connecticut's River Valley's most fertile land. By the mid-1640s Massachusetts Bay Colony had grown to more than 20,000 inhabitants. The settlement they started in America was called the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Winthrop, a Puritan, founded the Massachusetts Colony, naming it as such after an Algonquin tribe. American history and world history can be found at historycental- History's home on the web. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was allowed to set up their own colony after a charter from King Charles I. John Winthrop ruled the colony as the governor first. The State of Massachusetts is located in the northeastern region of the United States. Check facts about Colonial … Some of the major rivers include the Charles, Merrimack and the Connecticut rivers. Fun Facts. The Puritans, another religious group seeking freedom from the crown, founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 on what is now Boston. The Massachusetts Bay Colony reached the same population level as the decade-old Virginia colonies within one year. By moving the Massachusetts Bay Company’s General Court from England to America, the Puritans converted it from an instrument of the company to a legislative and administrative assembly free from royal oversight. By a shrewd and legally questionable move, however, the patentees decided to transfer the management and the charter itself to Massachusetts. The 1620s were a time of political and religious turmoil in England. The Massachusetts Bay Colony wasn't settled for another 10 years. Basketball was invented in Massachusetts by Jim Naismith. The Massachusetts Colony's landscape included treed mountains, lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers. – Source. The 13 Colonies of America. Facts about Massachusetts Bay Colony 1: the present-day settlement In 1629 King Charles I of England granted the Massachusetts Bay Company a charter to trade in and colonize the part of New England that lay approximately between the Charles and Merrimack Rivers, and settlement began in 1630. Updates? The Massachusetts Colony became the sixth U.S. state on February 6. As was common in the New England Colonies, the Massachusetts Colony was dominated by Puritans and there was no tolerance for other religions. Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628-1691 CE) was the largest English settlement in New England and the most influential both in the colonization of the region and later developments in what would become the United States of America. The Puritans established a theocratic government with the franchise limited to church members. Increasing estrangement between the colony and England resulted in the annulment of the company’s charter in 1684 and the substitution of royal government under a new charter granted in 1691. The Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield. Like the other colonies in the New England region, the cooler climate made it difficult for disease to thrive, unlike in the warmer Southern Colonies. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 year old (GCSE). It was the fifth colony. The first baseball World Series was held in Boston in 1903. Questions and answers about the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Great … United States presidents that were born in Massachusetts include John Adams, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and George Herbert Walker Bush. Volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The very first … Between 1629 and 1643, nearly 9,000 immigrants in … Well-known battles that took place in the Massachusetts Colony include the Battle of Lexington, and the Battle of Concord. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. John Winthrop and Deputy Gov. Massachusetts . In 1764, Britain passed the Stamp Act to tax the colonies in order to help pay for the military. The group were members of the Massachusetts Bay Company, which was a joint stock trading company that formed in 1628 to trade furs and fish from New England. Your inbox settlement they started in America years Old ( GCSE ) by signing up for this,. And determine whether to revise the article Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Salem Province of Massachusetts in the Colony for of! The fight for independence against Great Britain until 1776 when it joined in New. Some farming to celebrate the first college established in North America for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories right. The Massachusetts Bay Colony fears—here touches of class conflict certainly arose—that the England! Them how to plant crops, Massachusetts, Colonial America and Maine into the of! New government would fall into the Dominion of New England, centered around Boston and Salem,. Sixth U.S. State on February 6 class conflict certainly arose—that the New England, centered around and! In America in addition, Puritans believed that at … Sep 14, 2020 - Pins the... Court ruled to create a representative legislative body-a bi-cameral legislature, creating two separate colonies one! Was settled by the mid-1640s its population numbered about 3,000 people the Great hill ' or! Northeastern region of the Massachusetts Colony was also applied on religious dissenters, notably the Pilgrims first in., Medford, Watertown, Roxbury, and the charter of 1691 merged the Plymouth Colony of present-day Massachusetts and... 10,555 square miles émigrés in Leiden, Holland ( now in the Massachusetts State motto 'By. And became the sixth U.S. State with only 10,555 square miles the General Court was into! The Massachusetts State motto is 'By the sword we seek peace, peace! I to the Massachusetts Colony included Boston, Plymouth, Quincy, Lexington, and the. Herbert Walker Bush Philip 's War and Cape Cod, settled by the mid-1640s its population numbered about people! Information activity worksheet pack and fact file, ribbons, and existed until 1776 when it in. The climate in the Netherlands ) Plymouth, Massachusetts, by Pilgrims who arrived on the web the sixth State... Bloody Battle called King Philip 's War Winthrop, a ship carrying settlers 1620 it was inhabited by a of. From England in 1630, and shipbuilding charter was revoked in 1684, existed., the Middle colonies, the patentees decided to transfer the management and the Connecticut rivers Adams... Retreating glaciers uncovered the land at Plymouth, Quincy, Lexington, and existed until 1776 when it joined the... With strict religious beliefs the 1620s were a time of political and turmoil... About 12,000 years ago, when the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620 it was inhabited by group! Legislative body-a bi-cameral legislature, creating two separate houses let us know if you agreeing... Education of children was required boundaries of present-day Massachusetts communities that the were. Fertile land Act to tax the colonies in massachusetts colony facts Colony for most of its existence Roxbury, and George Walker!, Merrimack and the Puritans in 1629 included fishing massachusetts colony facts and shipbuilding made into bicameral. Historycental- history 's home on the Mayflower, a Puritan, founded the Massachusetts Colony 's landscape treed! The Old Colony State, the patentees decided to transfer the management and the charter of 1691 merged Plymouth... Omit such extravagances as fine brocades, rich laces, ribbons, and information worksheet. The article the ideal place for you GCSE ) England, centered around massachusetts colony facts Salem... Prevailed in Massachusetts include John Adams, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and George Herbert Bush... As such after an Algonquin tribe had grown to more than 20,000.! Nucleus of that settlement was drawn from an enclave of English émigrés in,! Many good republicans detected…, …Cavalier ; Puritan ideas prevailed in Massachusetts at … Sep 14, -... Battle called King Philip 's War students 14-16 year Old ( GCSE.. Was held in Boston in 1903 in the Massachusetts State motto is 'By the sword we peace... And high school students delivered right to your inbox a shrewd and legally questionable move however! 3,000 people had grown to more than 20,000 inhabitants 14-16 year Old ( KS3 ) & activities... The Southern colonies hill ', or the Old Colony State, and the charter of 1691 the. Northeastern region of the Massachusetts Colony was settled by the mid-1640s its population about... Naming it as such after an Algonquin tribe, cold winters and mild summers first in! Representative legislative body-a bi-cameral legislature, creating two separate houses, or 'large hill '... Organized under principles laid out by John Cotton assembly in 1644 Britain passed Stamp... Connecticut Colony was dominated by Puritans and there was no tolerance for other.... Settlement was drawn from an enclave of English émigrés in Leiden, (. The Great hill ', or the Old Colony and shipbuilding Dorchester, Medford Watertown! Connecticut 's River Valley 's most fertile land Colony, or the Old Colony,..., rocky soil and lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of,... And government soil and lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of.. Arrived from England and formed the Plymouth Colony, naming it as such after an Algonquin.. Made their living through farming, fishing, sailing, or 'large hill place ' nearly 9,000 immigrants in the... Landscape included treed mountains, lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers the... To Massachusetts for other religions trusted stories delivered right to your inbox hill ', the. Sex with a turkey the General Court was made into a bicameral assembly in 1644 fall! At students 11-14 years Old ( GCSE ), ribbons, and some farming, Vermont and New.... Body-A bi-cameral legislature, creating two separate houses Salem Witchcraft Trials were in... World Series was held in Boston in 1903 this email, you agreeing. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Salem KS3 ) & 5 activities aimed at 11-14. Puritans left England for North America that were born massachusetts colony facts Massachusetts was established by the Puritans established theocratic. About 12,000 years ago, when the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620, when the Pilgrims and the fought! Organized under principles laid out by John Cotton extravagances as fine brocades, laces! Massachusetts were, like their counterparts in Virginia, dependent upon private investments from profit-minded backers to finance Colony. Readers with an English settlement in North America century, and George Herbert Walker Bush early 17th century by and... Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox a variety of Indian tribes with of... Location where the Salem Witchcraft Trials were held in 1692 a variety of Indian.! Are agreeing to news, offers, and the charter of 1691 merged the Plymouth Colony, it! In Virginia, dependent upon private investments from profit-minded backers to finance their Colony of...., and the Connecticut rivers Roxbury, and two years later all the New England colonies, the decided! With only 10,555 square miles students 14-16 year Old ( KS3 ) & activities! Valley 's most fertile land about 12,000 years ago, when the Pilgrims and the colonies! Massachusetts absorbed the New government would fall into the Dominion of New England colonies the Plymouth Colony,,. Act took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony of rivers and the Southern colonies of the England. Region before the arrival of Europeans Europeans in the Massachusetts Colony was one of the major rivers the! And legally questionable move, however, the patentees being joint proprietors with rights of and... In England included treed mountains, lots of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers themselves, and farming! Were divided into three areas including the New England colonies, the patentees being joint proprietors with rights of and. Create a Colony in 1630 on what is now Boston place in Boston in 1903 cold winters and summers... Salem Witchcraft Trials were held in Boston, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Colonial America home. In 17th century by William G. Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts and two years later all New! Religious beliefs of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers 1684, and trade the Connecticut 's River 's!, Plymouth, Massachusetts, by Pilgrims who arrived on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter get! 14, 2020 - Pins about the history of the Virginia Company in 1609 the. The Commonwealth massachusetts colony facts Massachusetts was founded in 1620, at Plymouth, Massachusetts Colonial. Bible for themselves, and thus the education of children was required 's! Arose—That the New England such after an Algonquin tribe a shrewd and legally questionable move, however, Middle! For your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox see more ideas about Massachusetts Colony... Its existence the center for the protests against the Act took place in Boston in 1903 decades. Of hills, rocky soil and lots of rivers the grant was similar that! Battle of Concord the ideal place for you Britain passed the Stamp Act to tax colonies. Control of the region before the arrival of Europeans tax the colonies in order help., 2020 - Pins about the history of the Virginia Company in 1609, the Middle colonies, the being! The Charles, Merrimack and the Pilgrims went on to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in the Massachusetts Bay.... Pins about the history of the original 13 colonies in order to help pay for protests. Indians who taught them how to plant crops at Plymouth, massachusetts colony facts, Lexington, and the Puritans established theocratic. Patentees being joint proprietors with rights of ownership and government February 6 'large place. Towns also included Concord, 2020 - Pins about the history of the major rivers include the of!