Question

document 2: commission for the dominion of new england 1688
james ii (1633 - 1701) created the dominion of new england in 1688 to place the new england colonies under royal control as part of the british mercantile policy that included the first navigation act of 1660 and the charter of the royal african company. james ii made sir edmund andros, former governor of new york, governor of the dominion, which encompassed new england colonies of plymouth, rhode island, connecticut, and massachusetts bay. james ii was toppled by parliament during the glorious revolution of 1689 and the dominion of new england was dissolved.
james the second by the grace of god king of england, scotland france and ireland defender of the faith &c. to our trusty sir edmund andros knt greeting: we have constituted and appointed you to be our captain general and governor in chief and over all that part of our territory and dominion of new england in america known by the names of our colony of the massachusetts bay, our colony of new plymouth, our provinces of new hampshire and maine... and whereas since that time we have thought it necessary for our service and for the better protection and security of our subjects in those parts to join and annex to our said government the neighboring colonies of rhode island and connecticut, our province of new york and east and west jersey, with the territories hereunto belonging, as wee do hereby join annex and unite the same to our said government and dominion of new england. we therefore...have thought fit to constitute and appoint as wee do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be our captain general and governor in chief and over our colonies of the massachusetts bay and new plymouth, our provinces of new hampshire and maine, the narraganset country or kings province, our colonies of rhode island and connecticut our province of new york and east and west jersey...to be called and known as formerly by the name and title of our territory and dominion of new england in america.
and we do hereby give and grant unto you full power and authority...to make constitute and ordain laws statutes and ordinances for the public peace, welfare, and good government of our said territory & dominion and of the people and inhabitants... and for the benefit of us...
and we do by these presents give and grant unto you full power and authority... to impose assess and raise and levy rates and taxes as you shall find necessary for the support of the government within our territory and dominion of new england...
close reading questions

1. what was the purpose of creating the dominion? what powers was andros given and how might those powers cause problems?
2. think about the new england puritans and their purpose for settling new england and for their town meetings. how might they respond to this policy?
3. james ii was overthrown in 1689. the english bill of rights was introduced in england, limiting the power of the king and outlining the basic rights of all englishmen. how might this event have also affected ideas about government and liberty in the colonies?

Explanation:

1. The purpose of creating the Dominion of New England was to place the New - England colonies under royal control as part of British mercantilist policy. Andros was given powers to make laws, statutes, and ordinances for public peace, welfare, and good government, and to impose, assess, raise, and levy rates and taxes. These powers could cause problems as they centralized authority and might conflict with local self - governance.
2. The New England Puritans settled New England for religious freedom and to build a godly community. Their town meetings emphasized local self - rule. They might have strongly opposed this policy as it reduced their local autonomy.
3. The introduction of the English Bill of Rights in 1689, which limited the king's power and outlined basic rights of Englishmen, could have inspired colonists to think more about their own rights and limitations on royal authority in the colonies, potentially fueling calls for more self - governance and liberty.

Answer:

1. Purpose: To place New England colonies under royal control as part of British mercantilist policy. Powers: To make laws, levy taxes. Problems: Centralized authority, conflict with local self - governance.
2. The Puritans settled for religious freedom and local self - rule. They might oppose this policy due to reduced local autonomy.
3. It could have inspired colonists to think more about their rights and call for more self - governance and liberty.