Title: Massachusetts Bay Colony - Home
Headings: Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Economy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Government in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Daily Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Working in the Colony
FUN FACTS and EXTRA INFO

Content: He founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Government in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
John Winthrop founded and was in charge of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. He founded Massachusetts because the Puritans wanted religious freedom from England. They brought a royal charter with them. This charter allowed them to set up a government in the small colony. According to the charter, freemen were to meet and choose any elected official for the council. People in the "middle class" and "highest class" could vote. The people in the "low class" were usually indentured servants or slaves, and they could not vote. In May 1631, at the second meeting of the general court, there were about 116 men attending the meeting. The meeting was set up by the settlers/colonists as a oath and governing body.