The Dominion of New England in America (1686–89) is an administrative union of English colonies covering New England and the Mid-Atlantic Colonies (except for the Colony of Pennsylvania).
Its political structure represents centralized control similar to the model used by the Spanish monarchy through the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
The dominion is unacceptable to most colonists, because they deeply resent being stripped of their rights and having their colonial charter revoked.
Governor Sir Edmund Andros tries to make legal and structural changes, but most of these are undone and the Dominion is overthrown as soon as word is received that King James has left the throne in England.
One notable change is the introduction of the Church of England into Massachusetts, whose Puritan leaders had previously refused to allow it any sort of foothold.
The Dominion encompasses a very large area from the Delaware River in the south to Penobscot Bay in the north, composed of present-day New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, plus a small portion of Maine.
It is too large for a single governor to manage.
Governor Andros is highly unpopular, and is seen as a threat by most political factions.
News of the Glorious Revolution in England reaches Boston in 1689, and the Puritans launch a revolt against Andros, arresting him and his officers.
Leisler's Rebellion in New York City deposes the dominion's lieutenant governor Francis Nicholson.
After these events, the colonies that had been assembled into the dominion revert to their previous forms of government, although some govern formally without a charter.
New charters are eventually issued by the new joint rulers William III of England and Queen Mary II.
