New England Confederation

Quick Facts: Who was New England Confederation?

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New England Confederation

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A confederal alliance uniting Puritan colonies for mutual defense and religious unity.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The United Colonies of New England, commonly known as the New England Confederation, was a confederal alliance of the New England colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Saybrook (Connecticut), and New Haven formed in May 1643, during the English Civil War. Its primary purpose was to unite the Puritan colonies in support of the Congregational church, and for defense against the Native Americans and the Dutch colony of New Netherland. It was the first milestone on the long road to colonial unity and was established as a direct result of a war that started between the Indigenous Mohegan and Narragansett nations. Its charter provided for the return of fugitive criminals and indentured servants, and served as a forum for resolving inter-colonial disputes. In practice, none of the goals were accomplished.

Career & Major Achievements

The confederation was weakened in 1654 after Massachusetts Bay refused to join an expedition against New Netherland during the First Anglo-Dutch War, although it regained importance during King Philip's War in 1675. It was dissolved after numerous colonial charters were revoked in the early 1680s. John Quincy Adams remarked at a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society on the 200th anniversary of the Confederation's founding: The New England confederacy was destined to a life of less than forty years' duration. Its history, like that of other confederacies, presents a record of incessant discord--of encroachments by the most powerful party upon the weaker members, and of disregard, by all the separate members, of the conclusions adopted by the whole body. Still the main purpose of the union was accomplished.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The full name of the 1643 treaty was "The Articles of Confederation between the Plantations under the Government of the Massachusetts, the Plantations under the Government of New Plymouth, the Plantations under the Government of Connecticut, and the Government of New Haven with the Plantations in Combination therewith". The colonies of New England were expanding territorially and the populations growing, and their contact was increasing with other European colonial settlements, as well as with surrounding Native American tribes. New England colonial leaders sought a way allowing the individual colonies to coordinate a collective defense of New England. The New England leaders also felt that they were unique among the American colonies, and they hoped to band together to preserve their Puritan values. The treaty calls on the New England colonies to act as a nation, saying that they share a way of life and religion.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1643: 1643 Milestone — The United Colonies of New England, commonly known as the New England Confederation, was a confederal alliance of the New England colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Saybrook (Connecticut), and New Haven formed in May 1643, during the English Civil War.
2. 1654: 1654 Milestone — The confederation was weakened in 1654 after Massachusetts Bay refused to join an expedition against New Netherland during the First Anglo-Dutch War, although it regained importance during King Philip's War in 1675.

Notable Quotes by New England Confederation

“The New England confederacy was destined to a life of less than forty years' duration. Its history... presents a record of incessant discord...” (1843)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: New England Confederation

True or False: “The New England Confederation achieved all its stated goals, including permanent unity and defense against all threats.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): In practice, the text notes that none of the confederation's primary goals were accomplished during its existence.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anne Hutchinson — Historical peer (Died in 1643) (1643): Pioneering religious figure whose challenge to Puritan orthodoxy sparked major colonial schisms.
• Benedetto Castelli — Historical peer (Died in 1643) (1643): Italian mathematician known for his association with Galileo and his work in hydraulics.
• Alessandro Algardi — Historical peer (Died in 1654) (1654): Master of High-Baroque Sculpture, renowned for his portrait busts in Rome.
• Axel Oxenstierna — Historical peer (Died in 1654) (1654): Influential Swedish statesman, Lord High Chancellor, and architect of modern Swedish governance.
• Emperor Higashiyama — Historical peer (Born in 1675) (1675): The 113th Emperor of Japan whose reign spanned the Genroku era.
• Guillaume Delisle — Historical peer (Born in 1675) (1675): Pioneering French cartographer renowned for accurate maps of Europe and the Americas.

Frequently Asked Questions about New England Confederation