History of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies: Pilgrims, Puritans, and the Founding of New England

The Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies were founded by adventuresome individuals with strong religious convictions. Puritans who settled in what is now the state of Massachusetts sought a place where they could practice their religion free from persecution as well as make a living. Both groups of settlers in America agreed that the Anglican Church needed to be “purified” and that each congregation should govern itself. The Pilgrims who settled the Plymouth Colony were more radical separatists who wanted to break away from the Church of England. In contrast, those that settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony were less radical and more numerous, they sought to reform the Anglican Church from within, not separate from it.
Journeying from their home in England to their new home on the northeastern shore of America was a voyage of over three thousand miles across a virtually uncharted and dangerous ocean. Though many would perish on the voyage that took months, they spent most of their time below deck huddled with their fellow travelers and livestock in dark and dank quarters, yet they kept coming in search of freedom and opportunity. These brave adventurers established two colonies that would grow and prosper over the centuries to become the state of Massachusetts and much of the New England region. We owe much to these early forefathers of America, an educational system, a representative form of government, and the dream that with hard work and determination one can build a brighter future.

The book “History of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies” gives a concise look at the formation and early years of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies. To illustrate the story there are numerous pictures of the people, places, and events that were part of this adventure. In addition, a list of reference books for further reading is included. A timeline of the colonies puts the events in sequence and there is a section that contains short biographical sketches of the key individuals in the book.

30-Minute Book Series
This is the 42nd book in the 30-Minute Book Series. Books in this series are fast-paced, accurate, and cover the story in as much detail as a short book possibly can. Most people complete each book in less than an hour, which makes the books in the series a perfect companion for your lunch hour, a school project, or a little down time.

About the Author
Doug West is a retired engineer and an experienced non-fiction writer with several books to his credit. His writing interests are general, with special expertise in history, science, and biographies. Doug has a Ph.D. in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University.