New England Confederation: Difference between revisions

United Colonies of New England

The Articles of Confederation between the Plantations under the Government of the Massachusetts, the Plantations under the Government of New Plymouth, the Plantations under the Government of Connecticut, and the Government of New Haven with the Plantations in Combination therewith
Map of New England Colonies in the 1600's
Type	Directional Confederation and Military Alliance
Context	Great Migration, British colonization of the Americas, American Indian Wars, Anglo-Dutch Wars
Drafted	May 19, 1643
Parties	Massachusetts Bay Colony Plymouth Colony Saybrook Colony New Haven Colony

The United Colonies of New England, commonly known as the New England Confederation, was a short-lived military alliance of the New England colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed in May 1643. Its primary purpose was to unite the Puritan colonies in support of the church, and for defense against the American Indians and the Dutch colony of New Netherland.^[1] It was the first milestone on the long road to colonial unity, and was established as a direct result of a war that started between the Mohegans and Narragansetts. Its charter provided for the return of fugitive criminals and indentured servants, and served as a forum for resolving inter-colonial disputes. In practice, none of the goals were accomplished.^[2]

The confederation was weakened in 1654 after Massachusetts refused to join an expedition against New Netherland during the First Anglo-Dutch War, although it regained importance during King Philip's War in 1675. It was dissolved after numerous colonial charters were revoked in the early 1680s.

John Quincy Adams at a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society on the 200th anniversary of the Confederation's founding remarked:

"...the New England confederacy was destined to a life of less than forty years' duration. Its history, like that of other confederacies, presents a record of incesant discord-of encroachments by the most powerful party upon the weaker members, and of disregard, by all the seperate members, of the conclusions adopted by the whole body. Still the main purpose of the union was accomplished."^[3]

With the expansion of the New England Colonies and their contact with the colonies of other European nations and Native tribes, New England colonial leaders sought an alliance and further integration. The treaty calls on the New England colonies as a nation, saying they share a way of life and religion. This alliance was meant to be a perpetual mode of defense and communication between the colonies themselves and any foreign threats.^[4]

The treaty contains 10 clauses^[5]:

1. That the colonies should form into a league of friendship with mutual military assurance. This relationship would ensure the communal safety and welfare of the colonies and preserve their Puritan way of life.
2. The New England colonies were to maintain and keep their current territory. Their jurisdictions would remain unfettered by the other members of the confederation and any changes made thereafter would after would have to be agreed to by the other members.
3. In the event of war all members of the confederation were bound to each other. This meant that they had to contribute whatever they were capable, in terms of men and provisions, to the war effort. The colonies would also be obligated to provide a census of all their available men for militia. All men from ages 16-60 were to be considered eligible for service. Any gains from military conflict were to be divided in a just manner among the confederation.
4. If any member state of the confederation comes under attack then the other members must come to their aid without delay. This assistance would take place proportionally. Massachusetts Bay would be required to send 100 armed and supplied men, the other colonies 45 armed and supplied men or less based on proportionality. If a greater number of men or supplies are needed then the Commissioners of the Confederation would need to approve of the measure. If any confederation members is at fault in terms of war then they shall make just any obligations to the assisting members.
5. Two Commissioners shall be chosen from each province (2 from Massachusetts Bay, 2 from Plymouth, 2 from Saybrook, and 2 from New Haven). These Commissioners were to be tasked with administration of martial affairs. Any agreement not reached by all members not unanimously can be settled by a majority vote of six. The Commissioners were to meet once a year unless there was an extraordinary situation which prompted the need of a meeting. The meetings were to take place the first Thursday of in September. The locations of these meetings are to be in a specific order, first Boston, second at Hartford, third New Haven, and fourth at Plymouth, with the cycle then repeating. If any meeting place was found to be unfit then another may be chosen.
6. The Commissioners would select a President from among themselves with a minimum 6 votes. This President would not have any extra powers and would serve a purely administrative function.
7. Commissioners would have power to draft law and codes that would benefit the general welfare of the Confederation. These laws would be to ensure amiability between provinces and security for the Confederation. There was also to be cooperation between provinces in terms of the return of fugitives and runaway servants. Provinces would have cooperation and open communication with these matters.
8. Due to the difference in size and power among the provinces, no member shall undertake any act of war or conflict without due consideration and consent of the others. This would be to prevent smaller provinces from being forced to engage in a war they did not have the resources to fight. Any offensive war would need approval of six of the eight Commissioners.
9. If there were to be situation in which all the Commissioners could not meet, and the issue had to be dealt with without delay, then four Commissioners could make administrative decisions. However any decision would have to be within bounds of the already agreed upon pledged men and resources, no decision concerning bills or levies could be made with less than 6 Commissioners present.
10. If any member province of the Confederation were to break any of the agreed upon clauses then the remaining provinces' Commissioners are to meet and decide upon any further action.

The Massachusetts General Court, the Commissioners from Saybrook Colony, and the Commissioners from the New Haven Colony, agreed to the treaty on May 19th, 1643. The General Court of the Plymouth Colony agreed to the treaty on the 29th of August in 1643.^[6]

Massachusetts Bay^[7]

• Increase Nowell, Secretary of the General Court

Saybroook Colony^[8]

• John Haynes, Commissioner
• Edward Hopkins, Commissioner

New Haven Colony^[9]

• Theophilus Eaton, Commissioner
• Thomas Gregson, Commissioner

Plymouth Colony^[10]

• Edward Winslow, Commissioner
• William Collier, Commissioner

• Dominion of New England, an entirely different entity, 1686–1689
• History of New England
• New England Colonies

Quincy Adams, John, ed. (1843). The New England Confederacy A Discourse delivered before the Massachusetts Historical Society, at Boston, on the 29th of May 1843; In Celebration of the Second Centennial of that Event. Charles C. Little and James Brown.

• The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England Settlements
• New England Confederation

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