Danielle Rassi Mr. Battersby APUSH 11 September 2011 DBQ 1: The Influence of Puritan Values The Puritans were a diverse group of people who stood for religious purity. They believed that the English Reformation had not gone far enough in disposing similarities with the Church of Rome, such as hierarchy. Throughout the 1630s to the 1660s the Puritan’s valued religion and their beliefs were displayed in their life style, from the layout of their church centered town to their idea of salvation. Despite the religious rules, “brethren” community, and Puritan work ethic that influenced their social way of life and produced economic success in businesses, their utopian government fell apart at the rise of conflict between religious and profit motives as well as the clash of opposing ideas to their Puritan political system. The social structure of the New England Puritans was a brotherhood.
Furthermore, Religion also played a part on unifying the people. What better ways to unite the people other than by letting them interact with one another? The people who lived in the colonies share a similar religion to the others who also lived there, by sharing the same religion people got along better with one another opposed to people who do not share the same beliefs. For instance in Plymouth, all the people were puritans which means that they all practice and shared the same beliefs, which led them to understand each other. This did not only happen for the puritans but all the communities who shared the same religion.
All of these gains added to the wealth and supposedly the happiness of those in the upper echelons of Virginian society. Meanwhile the Puritans had come to the New World to establish and grow their faith, not to indulge in the material pleasures of the New World. Another distinct difference between these two colonies is the social makeup of the colonies themselves. Massachusetts Bay was founded by the Puritans who came to the new world as families in an effort to create a “city on a hill that would stand as a beacon of righteousness for the rest of the Christian world” (Divine 30). These were deeply religious people, and land was handed out in “sufficient quantity to build a house
Some would argue that religion is a force for social change. This statement appears to be true because of things such as the civil rights movement in America, and the fact that without religion the changes that occurred during the civil rights movement would have never happened. This is because during the civil rights movement religion helped to mobilise public opinion by the use of preaching. Too get the people motivated for social change preaching would help pass messages across through a religious service and thus motivate people to change laws. A famous example of this was Martin Luther Kings ‘I have a dream’ speech, his use of religion in his passionate speech for equality helped to motivate people in society to push for social change, and ultimately changed America’s legislation and outlook on integration and equality between the black and white community in America.
These said factors led to considerable contrast. The colonists that settled in New England were families of young age. Family plays an important role in religion, and it shows that the colonists were planning to stay in America and form a community shaped around the church (document B). They were, for the most part, highly religious Puritans who wished to avoid religious persecution and wanted religious tolerance. So, they immigrated to America to follow their ideals, which are expressed in Document A.
Conceptions of God and Human Nature The quote “God made man in his own image, and man returned the compliment” explains God's image to man as up for open interpretation and varying from believer to believer, which applies to the Puritans and Benjamin Franklin. The Puritans that arrived in New England were frustrated with the Church of England's methods of practice because they were too closely related to Catholicism. The Puritans departed to the New World between the 16th and 17th century, in hope of purifying their religion and creating a society that properly and strictly obeyed God. The Puritan ways heavily influenced life in New England, even for the Franklin family. Benjamin Franklin was raised in a Calvinist family with Puritan foundations, but Franklin later grew to become a worldly individual through his studies and life experiences.
In two of the documents written in New England, there were religious issues mentioned. In the Articles of Agreement in Massachusetts, they wanted to live by God’s grace and treat everyone equally. Everyone should get equal land for a house lot that shall fit their quality. This article was very similar to the Wage and Price Regulations in Connecticut. This one says that all people shout consider the religious end of their callings and enable them to serve God and their neighbors with their arts and trades comfortably.
They all shared the belief in biblical authority and the importance for individuals to experience New Birth, through connection with God directly. Further more, the Protestants became concerned about the structure of their society and believed it needed to be reformed. The evangelicals felt there had to be changes in ways their prisons and educational
That is probably one of the biggest reasons he gives us free will.The reason that we believe this is because he is God Almighty, creator of heavens and the earth. If he could do all of that then we should want to be with him since he gave us life and the ability to give us free will. He wants to be part of our life but he also wants us to control it ourself too. We have to make a decision and be in control of our own life. God wants us to believe in him to know about his presence that is a big reason he wants us to hope.
My life matters to God because he created me and life for the opinion that matters is his. Throughout Core 100 I learned that I am important to God because he has a certain plan for me and he does not care about the materialistic things. What I am discovering through Core 100 is that there are many ways to please God. Throughout the