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== The Colonies ==

== The Colonies ==

From 1607 to 1639, a total of six colonies were established: Virginia, Massachusetts, New Netherlands (renamed New York), Maryland, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  There were four basic types of colonies:

 

From 1607 to 1639, a total of six colonies were established in what is now the United States: Virginia, Massachusetts, New Netherlands (renamed New York), Maryland, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  There were four basic types of colonies:

*'''Joint-Stock Colony''': investors fund a colony through a joint-stock company; examples were Virginia and Massachusetts Bay

*'''Joint-Stock Colony''': investors fund a colony through a joint-stock company; examples were Virginia and Massachusetts Bay

*'''Charter Colony''': founded on land granted by the king to a company or person who governed by it; examples were Connecticut and Rhode Island, which obtained charters many years after being settled

*'''Charter Colony''': founded on land granted by the king to a company or person who governed by it; examples were Connecticut and Rhode Island, which obtained charters many years after being settled

*'''Proprietary Colony''': owned and controlled by 1 or more persons; examples were Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York

*'''Proprietary Colony''': owned and controlled by 1 or more persons; examples were Maryland, Pennsylvania (William Penn), Delaware and New York

*'''Royal Colony''': a colony founded or taken back under rule of king, who appoints the governor to rule it; most became royal colonies eventually

*'''Royal Colony''': a colony founded or taken back under rule of king, who appoints the governor to rule it; many colonies eventually became royal colonies as the King took back control, as happened in Virginia

 

The growing colonies in Massachusetts and Virginia could not have been more different from each other, and it is remarkable they eventually joined the same country.  Massachusetts was highly religious and motivated by faith.  Virginia was marginally religious and motivated by money.  Massachusetts, more religious, had vocal opponents of slavery and neighboring Vermont was the first state to prohibit slavery in its Constitution, in 1777.  In contrast, Virginia welcomed slavery.  Massachusetts grew the Indian crop of corn.  Virginia grew the Indian crop of tobacco.  Massachusetts settlers made greater efforts to get along with Indians and treat them fairly.  Massachusetts attracted new settlers based on religion.  Virginia attracted new (white) settlers based on the "headright system," by which land (usually 50 acres) was given to those who paid for the passage to the colony of an immigrant, who usually agreed to work as an "indentured servant" for free for fixed number of years on the land. 

The stark contrast between Massachusetts and Virginia would ultimately lead, nearly 250 years later, to the Civil War.

The stark contrast between Massachusetts and Virginia would ultimately lead, nearly 250 years later, to the Civil War.

 

While the Virginia institution of slavery was spreading to the colonies of [[Maryland]], [[Carolina]] and, later, [[Georgia]], [[Massachusetts]] was spreading a different sort of institution: religious intensity.  [[Roger Williams]] was an extraordinary individual of such great faith that found even the Puritans lacking in their treatment of Indians.  Williams also disagreed with how the Puritans combined government and religion, and had even executed several Christians based on differences with the Puritan faith.  Williams was fabulous with languages and learned to communicate with many different Indian tribes, and even lived with them at times in spite of the danger.  He left the Puritans in Massachusetts and started the colony of Rhode Island, which to this day has prided itself on its independence.  Rhode Island was the only state to refuse to support a colonial tax on imports after the Revolution, and the only colony to refuse to ratify the Constitution until long after [[George Washington]] was President.  Rhode Island, under Roger Williams' direction, separated state government from religion.  No mandatory church attendance, and no funding of churches with tax revenues were allowed in Rhode Island.   

While the Virginia institution of slavery was spreading to the colonies of [[Maryland]], [[Carolina]] and, later, [[Georgia]], [[Massachusetts]] was spreading a different sort of institution: religious intensity.  [[Roger Williams]] was an extraordinary individual of such great faith that he found even the Puritans to be lacking in their treatment of Indians.  Williams also disagreed with how the Puritans combined government and religion, and how the Puritans had executed several Christians based on differences with the Puritan faith.  Williams was fabulous with languages and learned to communicate with many different Indian tribes, and even lived with them at times in spite of the danger.  He left the Puritans in Massachusetts and started the colony of Rhode Island, which to this day has prided itself on its independence.  Rhode Island was the only state to refuse to support a colonial tax on imports after the Revolution, and the only colony to refuse to ratify the Constitution until long after [[George Washington]] was President.  Rhode Island, under Roger Williams' direction, separated state government from religion.  It had no mandatory church attendance, and no funding of churches with tax revenues was allowed in Rhode Island.   

 

But while Roger Williams was highly moral, others in Rhode Island made it the biggest importer of slaves in all the colonies.  So censoring religion may have a price.  In contrast, in the larger Massachusetts, taxes funded religious institutions for nearly 200 years, until at least the 1830s.  It successfully prohibited slavery.  Another devout Christian who disagreed with the Puritans, was tried by them in 1636 for emphasizing "grace" rather than "works", and then fled, was named [[Anne Hutchinson]].  She escaped the Puritans but was later killed by Indians.  Religious persecution continued in Massachusetts in the mid-1600s: the Baptists were banished in 1651, and the Quakers were expelled or, when they remained or returned, they were hung.

But while Roger Williams was highly moral, others in Rhode Island made it the biggest importer of slaves in all the colonies.  So censoring religion led to harm.  In contrast, in the larger Massachusetts, taxes funded religious institutions for nearly 200 years, until at least the 1830s.  It successfully prohibited slavery.   

 

Another devout Christian who disagreed with the Puritans, [[Anne Hutchinson]], was tried by them in 1636 for emphasizing "grace" rather than "works", and she was forced to flee.  She escaped the Puritans but was later killed by Indians.  Religious persecution continued in Massachusetts in the mid-1600s: the Baptists were banished in 1651, and the Quakers were expelled or, when they remained or returned, they were hung.

 

The Congregational Church was started by Pilgrims in Plymouth (1620) as Independents.  Like the Puritans themselves, the Congregationalists declined over time due dispersal of the population on farms, the growth of rationalism, and perhaps the biggest reason of all, prosperity and the arrogance that can engender.

The Congregational Church was started by Pilgrims in Plymouth (1620) as Independents.  Like the Puritans themselves, the Congregationalists declined over time due dispersal of the population on farms, the growth of rationalism, and perhaps the biggest reason of all, prosperity and the arrogance that can engender.

 

Cracks in Puritan way became clear in the Halfway Covenant of 1657.  It was an agreement at an assembly of Puritans from Massachusetts and Connecticut to allow halfway church membership and baptism for sinners.  Second and third-generation Puritans seemed more interested in money than having the "born again" religious conversion necessary to become a full member of the Puritan Church and required in order to be allowed to baptize their children in the Church.  The Reverend Solomon Stoddard, whose grandson would be [[Jonathan Edwards]] discussed in the next class, proposed partial or "halfway" membership in the Church of children and grandchildren of Church members.  All the children and grandchildren need do was accept the Covenant and agree to the beliefs and rules of the Church, in order to participate in the sacraments of the Church.  But they would not be allowed to vote on any Church issues until they had a spiritual conversion.  This approach was adopted, but continued to be resisted by people on both sides of the issue:  some who thought it was too lenient, and others who found it too strict.

Cracks in the Puritan way became clear in the Halfway Covenant of 1657.  This was an agreement (a covenant) achieved at an assembly of Puritans from Massachusetts and Connecticut to allow halfway church membership and baptism for sinners.  Second and third-generation Puritans seemed more interested in money than having the "born again" religious conversion necessary to become a full member of the Puritan Church and required in order to be allowed to baptize their children in the Church.  The Reverend Solomon Stoddard, whose grandson would be [[Jonathan Edwards]] (whom we will discuss in the next class), proposed partial or "halfway" membership in the Church of children and grandchildren of Church members.  All the children and grandchildren need do was accept the Covenant and agree to the beliefs and rules of the Church, in order to participate in the sacraments of the Church.  But they would not be allowed to vote on any Church issues until they had a spiritual conversion.  This approach was adopted, but continued to be resisted by people on both sides of the issue:  some who thought it was too lenient, and others who found it too strict.

 

'''Debate:  were the Puritans right to be strict and to expel people of other religions?'''

'''Debate:  were the Puritans right to be strict and to expel people of other religions?'''

 

One prominent text claims, under "Rhode Island," that "This belief [by Roger Williams] in the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the American Constitution in 1787."  That is completely false.  Roger Williams was long dead by 1787, and there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution.  Rhode Island did not even send any representatives to draft the Constitution and it had no role in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  In fact, Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after George Washington was elected president, and even then it took much arm-twisting to compel Rhode Island to ratify the Constitution.  But some people want to keep religion out of government, and they refuse to admit that the First Amendment only prohibits the establishment of a national church by the government.  Rhode Island was the only colony that supported a "separation" of church and state.

One prominent text claims, under "Rhode Island," that "This belief [by Roger Williams] in the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the American Constitution in 1787."  That is completely false.  Roger Williams was long dead by 1787, and there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution.  Rhode Island did not even send any representatives to draft the Constitution and it had no role in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  In fact, Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after George Washington was elected president, and even then it took much arm-twisting to compel Rhode Island to ratify the Constitution.  But some people want to keep religion out of government, and they refuse to admit that the First Amendment only prohibits the establishment of a national church by the government.  Rhode Island was the only colony that supported a "separation" of church and state.

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