MASSACHUSETTS
TWO TYPES OF CHARTER
PROPRIETARY
COMMERCIAL
MASS CONT’D
PROPRIETARY
FEUDAL IN NATURE
CONFERRED TRACT OF LAND
GOVERNING RIGHTS
PROPRIETER
GROUP OF PROPRIETORS
MASS. CONT’D
COMMERCIAL
GRANTEES
EXTENSIVE/EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE
COMMERICIAL
POLITICAL
MILITARY
DEVELOP TRADE
ESTABLISH SETTLEMENTS
MASS. CONT’D
PILGRIMS vs PURITANS
MASS. CONT’D
PLYMOUTH
MASS. BAY CO.
PLYMOUTH
“PILGRIMS”
PROTESTANT SEPERATISTS
DISASSOCIATE FROM C of E
WORSHIP SIMPLY W/OUT
INTERFERENCE
MASS. CONT’D
“PILGRIMS”
SCROOBY, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
1608-AMSTERDAM
LEYDEN
AMERICA
MASS. CONT’D
PURITANS
NON-SEPARATIONIST
CONGREGATIONALSTS
CHANGE POLITY OF C of E
TO CONGREGATIONAL
PURIFY W/OUT SEPARATING
ESTABLISH PURE CHURCH IN
AMERICA
REFORM CHURCH IN ENGLAND
MASS. CONT’D
MBC
JOINT-STOCK COMPANY
INCORPORATED IN LONDON
TRANSFORMATION
MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY
MASSACHUSETTS BAY
COMMOMWEALTH
FULL-FLEDGED,
QUASI-INDEPENDENT, SELF GOVERNING, RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
MASS. CONT’D
NEW ENGLAND COMPANY
DORCHESTER COMPANY
MASSACHUSSETS BAY COMPANY
(AFTER 28 JULY 1629)
CHARTERED 4 MARCH 1629
MASS. CONT’D
MBC MOTIVATION
RELIGIOUS
SOCIAL/POLITICAL
ECONOMIC
RELIGIOUS
A FULLFILMENT OF
RELIGIOUS PROPHESY
SHINING “CITTY UPON A
HILL”
COULD NOT BE FULLFILLED
IN OLD WORLD
MASS CONT’D
SOCIAL/POLITICAL
COOPERATION AND HARD WORK
ACCEPTANCE OF PLACE
SOCIAL IN SOCIAL & RELIGIOUS ORDER
SUBORDINATION TO GOOD OF
COMMUNITY
COVENANTS
MAN AND GOD
RULERS AND RULED
MASS. CONT’D
ECONOMIC
PROFITS OF MBC
52 1/2 % TO THOSE
ADVENTURERS (INVESTORS) WHO EMIGRATED
47 1/2 % TO THOSE WHO
REMAINED IN ENGLAND
GOD’S WISDOM ON THE
CONDITION OF MANKIND
SOME WERE RICH/SOMEPOOR
SOME HIGH IN POWER/OTHERS
SUBORDINATE
MASS. CONT’D
ECONOMIC
GOD MANIFESTS HIS SPIRIT
THAT MEN HAVE NEED OF OTHERS
STOCKHOLDERS IN MBC=
“FREEMEN”
RULING CLASS “OLIGARCHY”
ONLY FREEHOLDERS COULD BE
ELECTED TO GENERAL COURT
MASS. CONT’D
JOHN WINTHROP
GOVERNOR MBC
AUTHOR OF CHARTER 1629
LAWYER
LAY MINISTER
ENTREPRENUER
MASS. CONT’D
WINTHROP
HE “CREATED” THE MBC
HISTORY RECORDS
“ARRANGED” TO BE FIRST
GOV.
SAW TO IT THAT MBC WAS
ADVANTAGEOUS TO HIM AND INVESTORS
STARTED TO CHANGE CHARTER
FROM THE FIRST
CHARTER ARGUABLY
PURPOSELY VAGUE ABOUT CONTROL
MASS. CONT’D
SENIOR SHAREHOLDERS
DIVIDE INTO SEPARATE COMMUNITIES
WATERTOWN
ROXBURY
CAMBRIDGE
DORCHESTER
SALEM
WITH MAGISTRATES (SR.
SHAREHOLDERS) MBC BECOMES COMMONWEALTH
MASS. CONT’D
FIRST SEAT OF GOV’T
CHARLESTOWN
23 AUGUST 1629 FIRST
COURT OF MAGISTRATES HELD
JUSTICES OF PEACE
APPOINTED
SEPT SECOND COURT
PENALTIES IMPOSED
CONSTABLES APPOINTED
ASSESSMENTS LEVIED
MASS. CONT’D
FALL
SEAT MOVED TO BOSTON
POPULATION
GREW
CHARTER
GROWING INADEQUATE
INCREASED
PURITAN INFLUENCE (WINTHROP)
ORIGINAL
TRADING COMPANY CEASED TO EXIST
WINTHROP’S
GOV’T HIGHLY CENTRALIZED
CHARTER
CALLED FOR 4 GENERAL COURTS HELD 1/4LY
MASS. CONT’D
ORIGINAL CHARTER ALSO
PROVIDED MEASURE OF POPULAR CONTROL
EACH COURT ATTENDED BY
FREEMEN
CONSTITUTE GENERALITY
ADMIT MORE FREEMEN
EACH FREEMAN TOOK OATH
MASS. CONT’D
OATH
1629 FREEMAN SWORE TO BE
GOOD AND TRUE “FAITHFUL AND LOYAL TO OUR SOVERIEGN LORD THE KING’S MAJESTIE AND
TO HIS HEIRS AND SUCCESSORS.”
MASS. CONT’D
I
-AB- being (by Gods providence) an Inhabitant, and Freeman, within the
jurisdiction of this Common-weath, doe freely acknowledge my selfe to bee
subject to the government thereof; and therefore doe heere sweare, by the great
& dreadful name of the Everliving-God, that I will be true & faithfull
to the same, & will accordingly yield assistance & support therunto,
with my person & estate, as in equity I am bound: and will also truely
indeavour to maintaine and preserve all the libertyes & privilidges therf,
submitting my selfe to the wholesome lawes, & ordres made & stablished
by the same; and further, that I will not plot, nor practice any evill against
it, nor consent to any that shall soe do, butt will timely discover, &
reveall the to the publick weale of the body, without respect of personnes, or
favour of any man, Soe help mee God in the Lord Jesus Christ.
MASS.
CONT’D
NO
MENTION OF KING
TWO
PREREQUISITES TO BEING FREEMAN
PROPERTY
MEMBERSHIP
IN CHURCH
INDICATIONS
OF BEING OF THE “ELECT”
THIS
CONFORMED TO LEADERSHIP’S (WINTHROP’S) IDEAL
FEAR
OF INTERFERENCE FROM CORPORATE BODY IN ENGLAND
RELIGIOUS
ECONOMIC
RELIGIOUS
INTERFEREMENT=DEFILEMENT OF PURITAN IDEALS
MASS.
CONT’D
FREEMEN
MINORITY
IN EVERY TOWN
ALONE
HAD FRANCHISE
THUS
REPRESENTED ONLY THEMSELVES
MASS. CONT’D
CHARTERS
AND CHANGES
1630-1643
25,000 NEW SETTLERS
CREATED
VAST CHALLENGE
NEW
SETTLERS NEEDED NEW LANDS/TOWNS
JOINT-STOCK
CHARTER THE ONLY MODEL
EXPANSION
TASKS
GOV’T
PERMISSION
SITE
CHOSEN/APPROVED
LAND
PURCHASED
LAND
SURVEYED/ACCEPTED
LOTS
LAID OUT/ALLOCATED
ROADS
BRIDGES
MASS
CONT’D.
NEEDED
ORGANIZATION
MONEY
“GOERS”
NEW
SETTLERS
“STAYERS”
FINANCIAL
BACKERS
USUALLY
IN SHORT SUPPLY
USED
OVER AND OVER
PROSPERITY-REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPER
MEMBERS
OF GENERAL COURT THAT GRANTED STTLEMENT RIGHTS
CORRUPTION?
MASS.
CONT’D
HOW THE POLITY STOOD IN
1630
WE
MUST REMEMBER:
VOTING
WAS NOT AN INHERENT RIGHT
NOT
INCLUDED AMONG LIBERTIES OF CHARTER
NOT
AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT OF THE KING’S FREE AND NATURAL SUBJECTS
FREEMEN
CHOSE THE GOVERNOR’S ASSISTANTS
ASSISTANTS
CHOSE FROM AMONG THEMSELVES GOV AND DEPUTY GOV.
GOV.,
DEPTUY GOV., ASSTS MAKE LAWS-APPOINT OFFICERS TO EXECUTE THEM
MASS.
CONT’D
ARRANGEMENT WAS IRREGULAR
IT
TOOK RIGHT OF ELECTING GOV. AND DEPUTY GOV. OUT OF HANDS OF
GENERALITY:ANTI-CHARTER
PLACED
RIGHT OF MAKING AND EXECUTING LAWS W/IN SAME BODY:ANTI-CHARTER
ARRANGEMENT IN ACCORD W/
WINTHORP’S IDEAL
POWER
WIELDED BY THOSE WHOSE DUTY IT WAS TO RULE # KEPT SMALL
DREAD
OF “PLEBIAN TYRANNY”
CONVINCED
GENERALITY NOT CAPABLE OF SOUND ELECTORAL DECISIONS
BAD
FOR BUSINESS
MASS.
CONT’D
1632 WINDS OF CHANGE
COURT
OF ASSISTANTS (BOSTON) DECIDED CAMBRIDGE NEEDED NEW PALISADE
LEVIED
TAX OF 60L TO BE SHARED BY 11 LOCAL PLANTATIONS
WATERTOWN’S
SHARE=80S
WATERTOWN
(LED BY PASTOR) PROTESTED
ARGUED
THAT CHARTER DID NOT GIVE THE RIGHT TO TAX TO GOV. OR ASSISTANTS
WINTHROP:
COLONY NO LONGER A CORPORATION BUT A COMMONWEALTH
THIS
MADE THE ASSISTANTS A SORT OF PARLIAMENT
WHICH
WAS ELECTED BY FREEMEN
THEREFORE
SHOULD HAVE POWER TO TAX
MASS.
CONT’D
REPRECUSSIONS
CHARTER
PROVISIONS CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE FOR A CHRISTIAN (PURITAN) COMMONWEALTH WERE
DISCARDED
CHARTER
CEASED TO BE A CHARTER METAMORPHOSED INTO BASIS FOR CIVIL GOV’T.
COLONISTS
STILL ENGLISHMEN HELD IN HIGH REGARD PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES-PROTESTED OVER
ASSUMED RIGHT TO TAX
ONLY
A PROPER PARLIAMENT COULD TAX-1629
MASS.
CONT’D
MAY, 1634
MEETING
OF THE GENERAL COURT
NONE
BUT GENERAL COURT HAS POWER TO TAX
CERTAIN
LIBERTIES RESTORED TO MUNICIPALITIES ENCROACHED ON BY ASSISTANTS
FREEMEN
TO CHOOSE CERTAIN OF THEIR NUMBER AS DEPUTIES
REPRESENTATIVES
THREE
OF FOUR GENERAL COURTS
COLONY NOW A
SELF-GOVERNING COMMONWEALTH
BASED ON SMALL
REPRESENTATION