History of the first 13 Colonies and how they became the United States The colonization of America and the fascinating events that led colonists and patriots down the Road to Revolution
Great Migration Definition
Definition of the Great Migration. The Great Migration was the period in American history when twenty thousand English men, women, and children crossed the Atlantic Ocean to settle New England between 1620 and 1640. Great Migration - The Puritans
The Great Migration began when religious sects, primarily the Puritans, undertook the 3000 mile sea voyage and migrated to the New World in search of religious freedom. The Puritans believed that they would be able to establish a pure church in the colonies, in the lands known as New England, that would offer a model for the churches in England and reform the Anglican Church and cleanse it of any vestiges of the hated Catholic religion. Refer to Religion in the Colonies Great Migration - Separatists
The Separatists were a group of Puritans who advocated total withdrawal from the Church of England and wanted the freedom to worship independently from English authority - the first Separatists to migrate to America were the Puritans, or Pilgrims, who travelled on the Mayflower and landed in America on December 21, 1620. | | 
Picture of a Puritan Girl - The Great Migration
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Reasons for the Great Migration - Religion in England
During the period between 1620 and 1640 England was in religious turmoil. The religious climate was so hostile and threatening that many Puritans were forced to leave the country, many of whom fled to the Netherlands. Religion in England was dictated by the monarchy. King James I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was a Protestant and during his reign the English colonisation of North America began with the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. The Puritans presented him with the Millenary Petition requesting reforms in the Anglican church, particularly the abolition of confirmation, wedding rings, and the term "priest". King James I banned religious petitions starting a sense of persecution among the English Puritans. The situation became far worse when King Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) ascended the throne in 1625. King Charles I had a Catholic wife and leaned towards the Catholic religion. The Puritans were classed as dissenters and persecuted for their beliefs. The scene was set for the Great Migration. Facts about the Great Migration
Discover interesting facts and information about the Great Migration via this fast source of information - a History Timeline of the Great Migration. For additional facts and information about the people who were part of the Great Migration refer to the links and articles indicated. Facts about the Great Migration | | | Great Migration Fact 1 | On April 10, 1606 King James I of England issued the 1606 First Virginia Charter which created the Virginia Company authorizing eight Englishmen to colonize "that part of America commonly called Virginia". The establishment of the Virginia Colony starts the Great Migration to America
| | | | Great Migration Fact 2 | In 1616 John Smith publishes his book "A Description of New England" The congregation of the Puritan Scrooby separatists decide to leave England to escape religious prosecution and set their sights on New England, as described by John Smith
| | | | Great Migration Fact 3 | December 21, 1620: The Pilgrim Fathers after their Mayflower Voyage set foot on the new land and establish the Plymouth Settlement
| | | | Great Migration Fact 4 | The Winthrop Fleet of eleven ships, led by the flagship Arbella, delivers 700 passengers to New England in 1630
| | | | Great Migration Fact 5 | The Massachusetts Colony is founded in 1630 by John Winthrop and other Puritans
| | | | Great Migration Fact 6 | During the time period between 1630 and 1640 the four New England Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Rhode Island and Connecticut are established
| | | | Great Migration Fact 7 | Thomas Hooker (1586 - 1647) was a prominent Puritan clergyman and theologian who grew dissatisfied with the rigid practices and government of the Puritan church in Massachusetts and lead a group of followers to start a more liberal Connecticut colony in 1636
| | | | | Great Migration Fact 8 | In 1636 Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson were banished from the Massachusetts colony and establish the Rhode Island Colony
| | | | Great Migration Fact 9 | A charter for the land which would form the New Hampshire Colony was obtained by John Mason (1586–1635).
| | | | Great Migration Fact 10 | In 1630 the population of the colonies totalled 4,646
| | | | Great Migration Fact 11 | By 1640 the population in the colonies had increased to 21,634
| | | | Great Migration Fact 12 | Only 1.6% of the population were Catholic
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The Great Migration - Population of the 13 Colonies
The population of the 13 colonies (European and African) following the Great Migration increased dramatically in a relatively short number of years as can be seen by the following population chart. The number of slaves in the colonial period increased from 10,000 in the 1600's to 400,000 in the 1700's. | Year | Population of the 13 Colonies | 1630 1640 1650 1660 1670 1680 1690 1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1760 1770 | 4,646 21,634 50,368 75,058 111,935 151,507 210,372 250,888 331,711 466,185 629,445 905,563 1,170,760 1,593,625 2,148,076
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Great MigrationInteresting Facts and information about the Great Migration Fast Facts and info about the Great Migration Great Migration history resource for kids Social Studies Homework help for kids on the Great Migration
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