Which alliance of four New England colonies set a precedent for unified action towards common goals?

The New England Confederation was significant as it marked one of the earliest forms of a unified governmental structure among the colonies, specifically among Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven. Established in 1643, its purpose was to provide a collective defense against potential threats, particularly from Native American tribes and the Dutch. This alliance allowed the colonies to coordinate military efforts and make collective decisions more efficiently, setting a precedent for future cooperative endeavors among the colonies.

This early example of inter-colonial cooperation laid the groundwork for later alliances and unifying actions, such as the Albany Plan of Union, which was a proposal for greater coordination among the colonies but did not result in a binding agreement. The Continental Association and the First Continental Congress were more focused on the responses to British actions leading up to the American Revolution and were influenced by the spirit of unity initiated by the New England Confederation but came later in the colonial timeline. Thus, the New England Confederation serves as a foundational model for collaborative governance among colonies in pursuit of shared goals.