How Did The New England Colonies Affect The Life Of The Colonies

In the colony of Massachusetts bay, around 9,000 Puritans settled down to make their own model society based on religious purity. In their community, going to church was an absolute necessity. One could not be part of the community unless they were members of the church. The government and religion were so closely woven that they were nearly the same thing. When town meetings were held, the only way to vote in

New England consisted of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. While the southern colonies were Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Even though both of them were in the New World they differ religiously, economically, socially and politically. Both, New England and Southern colonies, made an impact on the development of culture.

Brinkley’s contradiction exists because throughout the early 18th Century nearly all colonist considered themselves to be loyal English subjects. Despite this, the American colonist simultaneously, and inadvertently began to develop their own unique identity. One that wasn’t necessarily a conscious decision to be different from England, but one that was largely shaped by, as Brinkley states, “the nature of the New World” (53). American colonist tried hard to maintain their cultural Englishness, but were being shaped by environmental factors in the areas where they now lived. This led to unique differences between the colonies and England in terms of population, economics, and society and religion, and political ideas.

Looking for a new place to settle in come to the New England colonies which are Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. In the New England colonies religion is the way of life and being a Puritan is too. The New England colonies offer mountains with thick trees, rivers, rocky soil, and coastal ports on the Atlantic Ocean. We have a climate of cold temperature and long winters. This may sound bad, but this climate helps with preventing the spread of diseases. Our economy is not really based on farming due to the rocky soil instead, it’s based on fishing, lumbering, trading, and shipbuilding but you can still farm. The social standing in our colonies is based on your religious standing. We are very strict with

In the 1630's and the 1640's, the Puritans traveled to the colonies to detach from their opinion of a convoluted Church of England. They set up towns and started new lives that were all based on their idea of a pure religion. The Puritan's definition of a pure religion did not include many of the ideas of the Church of England. They built the colonies and made a system based upon the idea that God was the most important aspect of life. Puritan ideas and values influenced the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660’s by spreading their beliefs into every facet of daily life. Politically their ideas regarding what was considered sinful behavior and how power was separated among the

The Puritans had what was known as town meetings, which was where members of the community would come and discuss town issues and would then vote using the principal of majority rule. Another form of government the Puritans had was the General Court, which was the state legislature and also a judicial court of appeals. Puritans were known as Congregationalists; that is when the church congregation is independent and is self-governed. Only elected members could serve in the church; they were known as living saints. Among the first Puritans to arrive in the New World was John Winthrop who was appointed governor and his intent was “to create a city upon a hill”. This city was to act as an example for the rest of the world. Now because of the Puritans we have democracy and forms of congregationalism which took part in politically developing the New England

Religion has shaped the colonial society in many ways because one of the reasons to leave England was religious persecution. The New England colonies overall are more strict in their religious practices, like the Puritan Massachusetts Bay, but there is some tolerance in places like Rhode Island. The Chesapeake region is less influenced by religion but they do have the Catholic Maryland. Although the Chesapeake colonies were founded for economic reasons, the New England colonies had a society more based off of religion through government, schooling and families. Therefore, the New England region was more heavily influenced by religion in society.

Religious uniformity was very important as they were intolerant of any other religion, and only church members were part of the government at first. Citizens were required to attend Church services as part of the law. Most of the people in New England had been merchants or small farmers in England. In New England however, the rocky soil made it hard for a lot of farming, so the Puritans turned to the coast. They built up major industries such as shipbuilding and fishing, and established trade routes with England, and the Caribbean. The New Englanders were a very pious and hardworking people, very different from their southern neighbours.

Climate: The colonists experience long winters and short summers. The growing season lasts about five months therefore, a bulk of food has to be harvested to last throughout the winter season. Cold winters help diminish the escalation of disease throughout the colonies. The weather in the colonies is compatible to England’s (in most parts), making adapting less difficult.

America was a place for dreams and new beginnings, until white people arrived in 1607. Three groups sailed over the treacherous Atlantic from their cruel lives in England to set up peaceful religious colonies. The only problem is that they attempted to settle in their own way and all failed dismally. The New England, Middle and Southern Colonies grew differently over the period 1619-1760.Examining the three sets of colonies will prove that they were all different: socially, economically, politically but not philosophically.

The colonists of Virginia were instructed to worship in the Church of England. They created the House of Burgesses, which was the first legislative assembly of representatives in North America. The colony of Maryland was established as a refuge for Catholics. The people of the New England region were Puritans. Puritans were people who wanted to “purify” the Church of England. The Puritans came over from England to flee from economic problems and religious persecution. They were people who followed strict rules and they learned from reading the Bible. The Puritans developed a form of theocracy for their government. They believed that the church was to follow the beliefs of the Puritans, that the church and the government should operate as

With religious reforms causing controversy in England came the Puritans, known for their simplicity in their way of life. They wore basic clothing and were against consumption of alcohol and sex (unless married). With the disagreements of the religious conflicts happening in England, the puritans “wanted to purify the Church of England from within.” The sole reason the idea sparked to settle a colony in America was in search of a Puritan lifestyle and the freedom to do so. On March 4, 1629 King Charles gave the Massachusetts Bay Company a charter while not knowing the true nature of what this colony was to become and for the reasons behind it. Still, the Puritans left for America in March 1630. In contrast to the type of people who immigrated to Virginia, the Massachusetts population was mostly nuclear families, meaning husband, wife, and kids. Also differing from the colonists in Virginia, the settlers in Massachusetts Bay worked together for the common good of the colony. Along with their lives and beliefs, their government and politics were religiously based as well and soon they decided upon a Congregationalism form of church government. Their churches were a matter of choice but in order to become a member they had a strict regulation “In order to join one (a church) a man or woman had to provide testimony–a confession of faith–before neighbors who already had been admitted as full members.” Because religion was the bases behind Massachusetts being colonization crimes and religious disagreements called for serious

Economic opportunity was extremely prevalent in the colonies. Factors that heavily influenced the situation were influx of people, triangular trade, and also the New England colonies. An influx of people is beneficial for any economy, and Colonial America was no different. Triangular trade was also how slaves fueled the cultivation of land. The New England colonies were in all sorts of trades, from growing corn to whaling and fishing. All of these factors played a huge role in building a successful economy.

One law states, “If any man or woeman be a witch, (that is hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit). They shall be put to death” (Mass. Body of Lib. 10). Another law states that if a man worships any other god, but the lord god, after legal conviction, he would be put to death (Mass. Body of Lib. 10). Even if a man did something as small as damage or ridicule the name of God, he would be put to death (Mass. Body of Lib. 10). Laws were severe and there are plenty of examples of these laws put into practice. Baptists who did not believe in infant baptism would cover their ears and turn around during the process. This could be changed in courts, the person could be banished, or the person could be imprisoned (Yale 9). Also, people who would protest against the General Court or the Puritan rule would be banished (Breen 1). Religion had colossal part to play in the laws and the consequences in Puritan New England.

In Puritan America, there were a