Notes:BC1:New England 1649

2014/06/25 User:Jeff

The primary reference for this page is Channing's History of The United States Volume I, chapter XV

Confederation

In 1643 the New England Confederation was formed. It included the Massachusetts Bay colonies, New Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven. Maine and Rhode Island were not admitted by design.

Maine was considered lax in its governance and Rhode Island was beneath contempt to some of the Massachusetts leaders, being founded by former Massachusetts Dissenters

• The main purpose of the federation was defense from the French to the north, Dutch to the east, and Indians wherever.

• Though one stated purpose was the advancement of Christianity and to worship as they was fit.

• The timing of the federation was coincident with the troubles that King Charles I was having with Parliament.

Winthrop of Massachusetts stated that it was inadvisable to take an oath to "bear true faith and allegiance to our sovereign Lord, King Charles, seeing that he had violated the privilege of Parliament and had lost much of his kingdom and many of his subjects".

This sounds almost like a declaration of independence. It was clear that they feared no retribution. It was not a matter of principled differences with the king. It was more a matter of being able to get away with it.

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