Final answer:
The new attitude in England towards religion after 1661 resulted in the revocation of the Massachusetts Bay Charter, expansion of male suffrage, and the establishment of the Anglican Church in Boston, ending Puritan dominance and leading to broader religious diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The new attitude in England toward religion after 1661 led to significant changes in the governance of Massachusetts, notably the revocation of the Massachusetts Bay Charter in 1684. This action fundamentally altered the religious and political landscape of the colony. Originally, Massachusetts was a Puritan stronghold, where church membership was a requirement for voting and holding public office, with a society woven tightly around the ideals of Puritanism, which included a focus on scripture and education.
However, the changing English policies towards religion, particularly during the reign of Charles II, led to a more liberal attitude. The Crown sought to enforce religious conformity across England and its colonies. This led to the establishment of the Dominion of New England in 1685, which centralized control over multiple colonies and significantly expanded male suffrage beyond the boundaries of church membership. It also introduced a system of governance that was less tied to Puritan religious precepts and more aligned with the English Crown's interests.
The shift towards a more inclusive political environment was further cemented after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, with the issuance of a new charter in 1691 under William III. This new charter liberalized voter eligibility, ended the Puritan monopoly in the church, and established an Anglican Church in Boston, signifying the end of Puritan dominance in Massachusetts governance. The Toleration Act of 1689 extended greater religious freedom to nonconformists in the British colonies, marking the beginning of a broader acceptance of religious diversity in what was once a strictly Puritan colony.