New England Colonies and Religious Freedom


US History European Colonization The New England Colonies and Religious Freedom
Students learn to distinguish between the Pilgrims and the Puritans, and focus on their religious motivations for coming to the New World. They are introduced to Roger Williams and Thomas Hooker, and they state an opinion if the New England colonies should be considered a symbol of religious freedom or not.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Here are the teacher pack items for New England Colonies and Religious Freedom:

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Overview

 

In this experience, students investigate how religion influenced the New England Colonies by examining their establishment and development. First, students evaluate secondary sources to understand how religious freedom led Puritans to seek new settlements where they could practice their beliefs without persecution. Then, they analyze how religion shaped colonial society once the colonies were established. Next, students explore how the colonies dealt with conflicts over religious beliefs by examining specific actions some colonists took to restrict religious freedom and the consequences of those actions. Finally, students take a deeper look at the ways in which religious freedom was limited within the colonies and consider its impact on different groups.

Estimated Duration: 45–60 minutes

Vocabulary:

  • Puritans - A group of English Protestants who wanted to “purify” the Church of England by removing practices they believed were too similar to the Catholic Church.

 

Objectives:

  • Identify the religious groups that settled in the New England Colonies
  • Describe religious influences on society in the New England Colonies


Before the New England Colonies took shape, groups crossed the Atlantic in search of a place to practice their beliefs. They spoke of “religious freedom,” but that meant different things to different people. In this experience, you’ll begin by thinking about what religious freedom might have meant in colonial times—and how it may not match how we think of it today.

Objectives:

  • Identify the religious groups that settled in the New England Colonies
  • Describe religious influences on society in the New England Colonies


pen and pencil sketch of a group of about 20 people in 17th century Puritan garb, standing and sitting on the narrow, sandy coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Most of them have their heads bowed prayerfully.

The departure of the Mayflower


People in the New England colonies said they wanted religious freedom. What do you think that meant to them, and how might it be different from what it means today?

Post your answer

This prompt is designed to surface students’ prior ideas about religious freedom and set the stage for deeper investigation. Consider highlighting thoughtful or creative responses without correcting all misconceptions—students will revisit and refine their thinking throughout the experience. Encourage curiosity by asking a probing follow-up like, “What do you think might happen if religious freedom meant something different to different groups?” or “Do you think it meant the same thing to everyone in the colonies?” This helps build engagement while preserving space for discovery.


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