From Colony to Commonwealth: The Story of Massachusetts’ Pre-Statehood Identity
The history of Massachusetts begins with the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620, who established Plymouth Colony seeking religious freedom. Ten years later, a larger group of Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These two colonies coexisted for decades, each with distinct character and governance.
The Province of Massachusetts Bay
In 1691, King William III issued a new charter that merged the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony with other territories to create the Province of Massachusetts Bay. This significant change unified the region under a single royal…..