Thread: American Colonial history question...?

Who were the Puritan leaders of early Colonial Massachusetts and what were their goals for this New England Colony?

Who challenged this leadership and what was the basis of these challenges?

What were the results of these challenges and what impact did it have on the life of Colonial New England?
I've exhausted local libraries and internet searches. Please help, at least point me in the right direction.

Look in the library you naughty thing

1) No real specific ones that I know of

2) People like Roger Williams- he wrote a pamphlet entitled "The Bloody Tenant of Persecution," where he wrote that Puritans should no persecute because they are often persecuted, there should be fair treatment of native americans, and that taxes should not be collected to support the church. Also Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan who interpreted the Bible for herself and taught others her ideas: this was a big no-no for any non-clergy, but she was also a woman.

these people had to flee to Rhode Island and Connecticut.

3) It caused disdain for authority. This is called the Hinterland vs. the Establishment. I suggest you do further research into this topic.

Increase Mather

"Richard Mather and John Cotton provided clerical leadership in the dominant Puritan colony planted on Massachusetts Bay. Thomas Hooker was an example of those who settled new areas farther west according to traditional Puritan standards."