The
Dominion of New England in America (1686–1689) was an administrative union of
English colonies in the
New England region of
North America. Its political structure represented centralized control more akin to the model used by the Spanish monarchy through the
Viceroyalty of New Spain. The dominion was unacceptable to most colonists, because they deeply resented being stripped of their traditional rights. Under Governor Sir
Edmund Andros, the Dominion tried to make legal and structural changes, but most of these were undone, and the Dominion was overthrown as soon as word was received that King James had left the throne in England. One notable success was the introduction of the
Church of England into Massachusetts, whose Puritan leaders had previously refused to allow it any sort of foothold.