John Winthrop
1588–1649
Boston; Massachusetts Bay Colony
John Winthrop helped lead a large group of English Puritans to Massachusetts Bay in 1630 and served repeatedly as the colony's governor. He hoped their community would become an example of religious living. That vision also placed strict limits on people who disagreed with colonial leaders. His government took part in disputes over religion, political authority, and Native land. Winthrop's journals are valuable historical sources, but they describe events from his own position and beliefs. Reading them alongside other voices helps us understand both the colony's goals and the people excluded from them.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- Whose voice did this person bring into public decisions?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“John Winthrop mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Grades 6–8: dig deeper
Why should historians compare a governor's account with accounts from people who challenged his authority?
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: National Park Service ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?