European immigrants set out to British North America for either one or both of two very different reasons, the escape of religious persecution or the pursuit of improved economic opportunity. The impetus for each settler’s journey had a unique effect on the development of the new colonies socially, economically and politically. Ultimately, these combined factors determined the church state paradigm established in each of the colonies. The colonial history behind the long debated issue of separation of church and state provides a foundation for better understanding American politics today. The religious persecution settlers experienced in their homelands and, for some, again upon arrival in British North America, served to shape the cultural landscape.
Some sociologists have argued that religion can bring about social change, however others have argued that religion in fact causes social change. Nevertheless some believe that religion can be both a conservative force and a force for social change. Max Weber believed in the social action theory whereby religious beliefs of Calvinists helped to bring about social change. This is supported in item A ‘religious ideas can be a powerful motivation for change, as Weber showed in his study of Calvinism.’ The surfacing of modern capitalism in Northern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries was due to Calvinist beliefs. Calvinists had several distinctive beliefs such as predestination (where god had predetermined whether a soul will be saved or not and there is nothing a person can do to change this), devine transcendence (no individual can claim to know god’s ill, which made people feel inner loneliness), and asceticism, self-discipline and self-denial were required by Calvinist’s and this prepared them for a life under capitalism.
In history religion has been a powerful force in shaping how humans have behaved. Religion can be a factor in peace and many times throughout history it has promoted conflict. In the exploration and settlement of America, religion has played a major role. The religious events that effected the exploration and settlement of Americas’ are the protestant reformation, the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, and the puritan migration. Religion played a key role in the exploration of the Americas by the Spaniards.
I agree that religion, when used correctly, is a phenomenal catalyst for incorporating moral and ethical principles into government. When religion is misused, it can create quite a tyrannical government. An example of this is the Middle Ages, where religion was used to instil fear into the governed. I will hypothesize that it is important that the religion was Protestant and not Catholic. I am very skeptical that democracy would have been the same result if the religion had been Catholicism instead of Puritan.
By 1750, the New England and Chesapeake colonies exhibited pronounced economic, social and political diversity due to both the differing motives for colonization and the differing geographies of the regions. Essentially, the New England colonies and the Chesapeake colonies were founded by people with distinctly different motives, the two region’s social, economic, and political developments varied greatly. The New England colonists were interested in escaping religious persecution and seeking spiritual enlightenment. This indicated that many of the colonist left England in families which varied the number of population in these colonies (Doc F). In addition the colonist placed a strong emphasis on education, as evidenced by the 1647 Massachusetts ‘Old Deluder Satan Law’ which mandated that if a town exceeded a certain threshold of families it must start a school.
Religion in the Early Colonies Religion served as a motive for colonization, as well as a form of government, and a reason for conflict. Colonies like Plymouth, Maryland, and Massachusetts were dominated by religion and were established solely for that purpose. Other colonies were more liberal. Nonetheless, their establishment was triggered by religion. Maryland was founded in 1634.
The question is asked by people all over the country; how did the cultures America in the north and south become so different? To find out, the early history of the country must be considered. The early factors from when America was still under British control played a part in creating the difference that exists today. Although there were many factors, religion was the key factor in why the New England and Chesapeake colonies were so different from each other. Puritanism in New England and Anglicanism in Chesapeake effected the development of the government, the social structure, and the economic opportunities.
Different religious theories have suggested their own concepts into explaining how religion functions within the society. The relationship between religion and social change had been strongly debated in the past years, as more and more individuals have to a certain extent 'broken' away from the more traditional values shared in a once united society. Writers on religion tend to fall into one of two sides, those who see religion as a conservative force, preserving the status quo and those who see religion as encouraging a force for social change. A number of structuralist theories argue that religion is a conservative force in society, that is, it produces stability not change within society and it reinforces the shared needs and values of society. For some sociologists this is a positive effect - the view of the functionalist theorists, for some is a negative one - the view of the Marxist theorists.
The colonial areas had countless similarities and differences when it came to religion, politics, economics, and social issues which account for the way the world is currently. All of these colonies each relate to locations that we as a society know of today. The northern colonies were made up of what we identify as today, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. At one time, the Northern colonies were made of different provinces. Religion played a major role in these colonies, their government was based on religious views.
Las Siete Partidas lists laws of what the Jews could and could not do, and how they were unjustly being taxed for almost everything. The Spanish believed that they had right to do this, and the religion conversion was at most successful for the people they conquered did not speak Spanish. The natives or indigenous people also did not have the armed power or scientific advances to revolt against any unjust. The same occurred with the African slaves. Just like the Spanish, the Portuguese tried to use religion as a means of justification for any enslavement and torturing.