“in What Ways Did the Ideas and Values Held by the Puritans Influence the Political, Economic, and Social Development of the New England Colonies from 1630 Through the 1660’s?”

The puritans came to america in hopes of finding a religious haven. They were trying to separate from the thought to be corrupt Church of England. Although the Puritans agreed with some of the that views the Church of England had, most were to liberal for the them and they needed to start a more conservative church. What better place to start then a blank slate, the New World. Developing a new colony was a challenge for the Puritans, but they persevered in their endeavors. They came with a goal based on religion and their new colony was created on solely that. Religion affected the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies.

In the 1630s to 1660s, the Puritans strong belief in god and its upholding shaped the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s development. The colony was fully based on the Puritan’s view which painted their religion and it effected the lifestyle. The Puritans were a highly religious group that believed god’s will was the absolute. As shown in document 3, it states how the church is always right and nothing should be done to offend it. This shows the grasp of the Puritans hold toward god because this was a statement of the church’s membership and so it should display their beliefs.

Seeing how devastating their worlds were, the English, came in fleets of ships around the late 16th and early 17th century They, decided to colonize here in the east coast of America; however, many problems did arise when trying to settle. Different clashes of culture diversified the English into two separate colonies; New England, and Chesapeake. The reasons behind the unfolding of these two colonies are reasons for colonization, social reasons and environmental reasoning . Thus procreating two very distinct colonies. The Puritans were persecuted in England.

Popular mythology conjures up images of Puritan New England as a pious, homogenous, agrarian community, a "Citty upon a Hill" intended to inspire the English homeland to turn to Puritan ways.(1) However, Puritan New England was more than a collection of small, agrarian communities. The harbors of New England supported shipping and fishing industries, and abundant timber and ore supplies inspired the Puritans of North America to pursue a colonial version of the English iron industry. These new American Ironworks required skilled labor; it was not possible simply to take the offspring of Puritan farmers and merchants and turn them into iron workers. The experienced, skilled laborers needed were mostly recruited from England and, generally,

They came with a goal based on religion and their new colony was created on solely that. Religion affected the political, economic, and social development of the New England Colonies. The Puritans in the New England Colonies had a very accelerated

A Puritan defined is “a member of a group of English Protestants of the late 16th and 17th centuries who regarded the Reformation of the Church of England under Elizabeth as incomplete and sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship.” Puritan society in America depended on the belief that all members were working for the glory of God. The Puritans did not allow deviations from the strict code of behavior which would not allow any member to have individuality. They restricted any type of entertainment, except that which was endorsed by the church. They worked and worshipped.

The Puritan society originated in England during the 1600s under King Charles and the bishops. The Puritans believed in the Anglican church, but it held too many of the Catholic churches remains. They wanted it to be purified by the Catholics, they tried to reform the Anglican church but it did not succeed (Campbell) Stuart Monarchs who ruled England were limiting Catholic influence in Puritanism, therefore it did not have great success (Campbell). Several Puritans came up with the Massachusetts company and got resources and built the group of Puritans into the New World (Britannica). Puritans lived a strict lives based on a literal interpretation in the Bible, and constantly talked and emphasized a fear of God and a fear of sin

Europeans migrated and formed the American colonies in the 1600s. Puritans were religious separatists, who left the Church of England and migrated to the American colonies. According to my map analysis, the maps display European influences in North America and show that puritans settled mainly in New England Massachusetts. These Puritans migrated with their own prescribed way of life, beliefs, and doctrines. In their new home, Puritans preached and introduced puritanical doctrines to the New England society. This affected the lives and lifestyles of New Englanders. People were taught to live their life in fear of the wrath of God. People lived according to whatever the church or the ministers instructed out of fear of going to hell. Therefore,

Therefore, the Puritans strived to work towards religious and moral reforms, and to do so, first escaped persecution from the Church and the King. As a result, a group of non-separatist Puritans led by Thomas Dudley and John Winthrop established a colony in Massachusetts Bay, mainly in order to have religious freedom, but also to maintain British cultural influences (before they had ventured to North America, they lived in Holland for a few years, but decided to leave in order to settle “as a distinct body of themselves” in the New World). Unlike in the Chesapeake Bay regions, religion was at the forefront of everybody’s mind, as every settler was a devout follower of God (at least at the beginning). Therefore, the cardinal principle in their community was a sort of religious exclusiveness as the Puritans held their spiritual beliefs, which translated into certain “community laws” and customs, highest. On the other hand, religion was a negligible motivator for colonists settling in the Chesapeake Bay regions.

The Puritans peregrination to the New World was to fabricate a society based on their religious beliefs. They wanted to build colonies that were going to worship and practice their religion as they did. A community that was more morally sound and based off of their view of Christianity. They settled in the New England colonies and established Massachusetts Bay as well as Boston. While establishing their “city upon a hill” they impacted the New England region with their political structure and religious emphasis. Their influence lasted throughout the 1600s and affected the society politically, socially, and economically through their spread of Christianity and morals.

In my thesis I contend that the Puritan society was successful because they came with family and friends from the same town or homes they originated from. Puritans also distributed lands amongst charters which created a stable economic status for all of the people living in the community. They were also able to befriend any neighboring Native Americans to avoid conflict that can harm or destroy their new successful society. Puritans came to New England with a new self-rule, meaning they left England because of religious persecution held against them. They were able to create a new successful society that lasted a very long time.

Nonetheless, the Puritans were successful in creating a self-sufficient society. The Puritans did a very good job of living within their means. They made sure to “dress according to their social class and pocketbook. The puritans did not believe in materialistic things, rather they believed that God would provide what the needed. They were given enough food, and sometimes they had a surplus of food. Because they were so sufficient their length of life expanded. The Puritans practically invented the term grand child because “adult life expectancy in New England was about sixty-five years” which was a lot longer than in Old England. Due to the fact that they had longer lives, they could work more and this means that there is potential for more money. Overall, the Puritans created a very self-sufficient colony in New England.

Finally, the puritans believed in Protestant ethic. Protestant ethic was the value attached to hard work in one’s “calling”. The puritans believed that hard work would bring success. Success was a sign that one’s fate was destined for heaven. The New England colonies prospered because of the Puritan’s strong values of hard work.

They valued hard work and believed that by maintaining a strong work ethic, they would be chosen as the “elect,” or someone who would be chosen to be saved by God. An example of someone who lived their life dedicated to doing worthwhile things was Robert Keayne. In Document F, Robert Keayne describes how his life has been full of hard work and his purpose in his last will and testament is to inform others about how he spent his life committed to work and did not waste his time. Keayne’s testament is an example of the Puritan work ethic that encouraged employment and kept unemployment rates low. Had Keayne not worked hard, he would not have been considered one of the “elect.” As a result of the importance of working hard, the New England colonies developed to have a strong work ethic. The colonists positively benefitted from a strong work ethic because they were able to prosper and advance. Men were encouraged to find jobs in order to please the Lord. Another way in which the Puritans influenced the economic development was by increasing awareness of the importance of wealth. Although the Puritans, such as John Higginson, did not agree that wealth was an important factor in life as compared to religion, the fact was that having land and money was becoming a higher priority for many. Higginson’s point of view in Document G is biased because he strongly supports religion over wealth.

The Puritans were a religious group that came to North America in search of religious freedom, and, in the process, greatly impacted the North American church, government, education, social mores, and economy. Many of the things that they implemented in the first colonies are still seen today in the social and governmental structures of the United States. Their beliefs and traditions are still practiced today and many social mores are still being adhered to, even now.