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

The New England Confederation was a significant early attempt at unifying the colonies in New England for mutual defense and cooperation. Established in 1643, this alliance consisted of four colonies: Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven. The primary goals of the Confederation were to provide a coordinated response to external threats, particularly from Native American tribes and European powers, and to manage conflicts between the colonies themselves.

This confederation is notable for its focus on collective action and fostering a sense of unity among the participating colonies. It laid the groundwork for future cooperative efforts, illustrating the potential benefits of colonies working together towards shared objectives. This precedent would be echoed in later efforts such as the Albany Plan of Union, which aimed for greater colonial unity, but was not as immediately successful. The Continental Association and the First Continental Congress arose in response to British actions leading up to the American Revolution, further demonstrating the evolution of colonial unity around common goals of opposition to British rule. However, the New England Confederation remains a foundational example of such cooperation among the early colonies.