What was the General Court Puritans?

What was the General Court Puritans?

Under the charter’s provisions, power rested with the General Court, which was made up of “freemen” required to be members of the Puritan Church. This guaranteed that the Puritans would be the dominant political as well as religious force in the colony. It was the General Court which elected the governor.

What’s the meaning of General Court?

: a legislative assembly specifically : the state legislature in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

What did the Massachusetts Body of Liberties do?

The Massachusetts Body of Liberties, adopted in December 1641, was the first attempt in the colonies to restrain the power of the elected representatives by appealing to a fundamental document that lists the rights and duties of the people.

Who could vote in Puritan Massachusetts General Court?

…in the colony to a General Court composed of only a small number of shareholders in the company. On arriving in Massachusetts, many disfranchised settlers immediately protested against this provision and caused the franchise to be widened to include all church members. These “freemen” were given the right to vote…

What was the function of the General Court in the Massachusetts Bay Colony quizlet?

What was the function of the General Court in the Massachusetts Bay Colony? Each town in the colony sent delegates to the Court, which served as a governing body. How was religion connected to government in the New England colonies?

What kind of government did the Puritans establish in Massachusetts?

theocratic government
The Puritans established a theocratic government with the franchise limited to church members.

What does the word town meeting mean?

Definition of town meeting : a meeting of inhabitants or taxpayers constituting the legislative authority of a town.

What do you mean by the word persecution?

Definition of persecution 1 : the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook. 2 : the condition of being persecuted, harassed, or annoyed.

What rights did the Massachusetts Body of Liberties protect?

The rights also contained in the Bill of Rights included freedom of speech, a right against uncompensated takings, a right to bail, a right to jury trial, a right against cruel and unusual punishment, and a right against double jeopardy.

Why was Roger Williams banished from Massachusetts Bay?

Religious dissident Roger Williams is banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the General Court of Massachusetts. Williams had spoken out against the right of civil authorities to punish religious dissension and to confiscate Native American land.

What did the Puritans believe?

The Puritans believed that they had a covenant, or agreement, with God, who expected them to live according to the Scriptures, to reform the Anglican Church, and to set a good example that would cause those who had remained in England to change their sinful ways.

What type of society did the Puritans create in Massachusetts?

IN THE 1630S, ENGLISH PURITANS IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY CRE- ATED A SELF-GOVERNMENT THAT WENT FAR BEYOND WHAT EXISTED IN ENGLAND. SOME HISTORIANS ARGUE THAT IT WAS A RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT, OR THEOCRACY. OTHERS CLAIM IT WAS A DEMOCRACY.