What was the purpose of the Dominion of New England?

The purpose of the Dominion of New England was to unify the English colonies under tighter control. This was implemented in the late 17th century by King James II as a means to streamline governance, strengthen royal authority, and consolidate the management of the New England colonies. By merging these colonies into a single administrative unit, the Dominion aimed to decrease the influence of local governance structures, which the English monarchy viewed as chaotic and unmanageable.

The centralization was intended to enforce more uniformity in regulations, particularly concerning trade and defense, as well as to curb the autonomy that many of the colonies had enjoyed. This initiative was met with resistance, reflecting the underlying tensions between colonial self-governance and royal authority, which ultimately contributed to rising revolutionary sentiments.