King James caused the charters of all the American colonies to be taken away.
The old charter of Massachusetts, which the people regarded as a holy thing and as the foundation of all their liberties, was declared void.
The colonists were now no longer freemen; they were entirely dependent on the king's pleasure.

At first, in 1685, King James appointed Joseph Dudley, a native of Massachusetts, to be president of New England.

But soon afterwards, Sir Edmund Andros, an officer of the English army, arrived, with a commission to be governor-general of New England and New York.
The king had given such powers to Sir Edmund Andros that there was now no liberty, nor scarcely any law, in the colonies over which he ruled.

The inhabitants were not allowed to choose representatives, and consequently had no voice whatever in the government, nor control over the measures that were adopted.

The councillors with whom the governor consulted on matters of state were appointed by himself.