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Question

Difficulty: HardNew England Colonies

"We do covenant to associate ourselves in one receipt of society and to carry on ourselves and matters according to such laws and constitutions as shall be made here... That we shall by all means in our power keep off from us all such as are contrary-minded, and receive only such into our society as will in a meek and quiet spirit promote its peace and harmony..."

— Town Covenant of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1636

Which of the following characteristics of the seventeenth-century New England colonies is best illustrated by the covenant?

  1. The establishment of tight-knit, self-governing communities centered on religious and social conformityAnswer
  2. B
    The development of a cash-crop economy dependent on a large influx of indentured servants
  3. C
    The transition from indentured labor to hereditary chattel slavery to resolve domestic political unrest
  4. D
    The promotion of free-market enterprise to bypass mercantilist trade restrictions imposed by the crown

Answer

The establishment of tight-knit, self-governing communities centered on religious and social conformity
The covenant reflects the Puritan desire to create highly cohesive, religiously uniform communities. New England town structures, covenants, and local governance (such as town meetings) were designed to enforce social harmony and exclude dissenters who were considered 'contrary-minded.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the main goals of the covenant signers.
The text emphasizes excluding those who are 'contrary-minded' and ensuring all members promote 'peace and harmony' in their society.
This establishes the social and religious values of the settlers.
2
Compare these goals to the historical characteristics of the New England colonies versus other regions.
New England was characterized by Puritan efforts to maintain religious conformity and community cohesion, whereas other regions like the Chesapeake focused on cash-crop agriculture and different labor systems.
This helps eliminate distractors that confuse regional characteristics.
3
Identify the option that matches this regional focus.
The choice describing tight-knit, self-governing communities centered on conformity is the correct answer.
It directly aligns with the document's emphasis on unity and exclusion of dissenters.

Key Concept

New England Colonies social structure, town covenants, and religious conformity
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Topics

New England Colonies

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