Dissenters and New Colonies
Dissenters and New Colonies is a Grade 5 history skill from Pengi Social Studies. Students learn how religious dissenters who disagreed with the dominant Puritan community in Massachusetts Bay Colony were expelled or fled, founding new colonies like Rhode Island (Roger Williams), Connecticut, and others where different religious ideas could flourish.
Key Concepts
The strict religious rules in Massachusetts did not allow for any disagreement. When independent thinkers like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson began to question the authority of church leaders, they were seen as a threat and were banished (forced to leave) from the colony.
Roger Williams went south and founded a new colony called Rhode Island. He established it based on the radical idea of separating church and state, welcoming people of all faiths.
This movement of dissenters led to the expansion of New England. Other leaders left to found Connecticut, creating a region defined by new ideas about religious freedom .
Common Questions
Who were the dissenters in colonial New England?
Dissenters were people who disagreed with the religious or political authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Notable dissenters include Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson.
What happened to dissenters in Massachusetts Bay?
Dissenters were tried and expelled from the colony for their differing beliefs.
How did Roger Williams found Rhode Island?
After being expelled from Massachusetts Bay in 1635, Roger Williams fled and founded Providence, Rhode Island in 1636, establishing principles of religious freedom and separation of church and state.
Who was Anne Hutchinson?
Anne Hutchinson was a religious leader in Boston who challenged Puritan ministers authority. She was expelled from Massachusetts in 1638 and eventually settled in present-day New York.
What grade covers dissenters and new colonies?
This is a Grade 5 social studies history topic.