What does the term "Dominion of New England" refer to?

The term "Dominion of New England" refers to a centralized governing body for New England colonies, which was established in 1686 by the English crown. The primary goal was to consolidate the Massachusetts Bay Colony and several other neighboring colonies into a single administrative unit in order to strengthen royal control and streamline governance. This structure eliminated the individual colonial charters and replaced them with a single governor appointed by the crown, significantly diminishing the autonomy of the local governments.

The establishment of the Dominion aimed to improve defense against Native American attacks and to enforce navigation laws more strictly, ensuring that colonial trade benefited England. It faced significant resistance from colonists, ultimately contributing to its collapse with the Glorious Revolution in 1688-1689, which reinstated self-governing practices in the colonies. Understanding this historical context highlights the importance of centralized control in colonial governance during this period and the tensions it created between colonists and the British government.