This society included changes in religion, economics, politics, and social structure. By 1763, although some colonies still maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. Religious toleration in the colonies began with large groups coming to America to escape religious persecution. Puritans, Pilgrims, and Protestants came to America to escape England’s corruption in the Church of England. In the colonies, a large number of English Catholics immigrated to Maryland and established large colonial plantations in order to avoid the persecution of Puritan enemies.
Although the New England and Chesapeake regions were originally colonized by mainly English settlers, the two regions in time evolved into two distinct societies. By 1700, their religious practices, family relations, and political differences led them in two different directions. New England was a refuge for religious separatists leaving England, while people who immigrated to the Chesapeake region had no religious motives. In Document A, John Winthrop talks a lot about uniting together to basically please God, and spread his word. John Winthrop states that the Puritan goal was to form "a city upon a hill", which would represent a "pure" community, where Christianity could be pursued (Document A).
DBQ American Revolution At the eve of the revolution it was evident that the colonists had developed a sense of urgency for their own identity and unity as Americans due to the constant political, economic, and social interference from Britain forcing them to break apart. Parliament began making laws that the colonists did not agree with. In order for the colonists to live how they wanted, they had to make changes; they had to break away from their “Mother Country”. As a result, the colonists began to slowly build their own identity. As identity grew away from British customs, unity among the colonists was beginning to increase as well.
American colonies were founded by groups of people who differed greatly in peoples own reasons for leaving England. The Chesapeake region was colonized by those seeking economic opportunity whereas the New England region was colonized by those seeking either to escape religious persecution or establish religious freedom. One would hardly expect these two very different groups to establish ways of life that were exactly the same. Moreover, the different geographies of the colonies only made the path that the colonies took more diverse. 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.
Duggan 1 Paul Duggan APUSH-3 10-20-10 American Revolution DBQ During the period from 1775 to 1800, American’s views toward Britain began to change. British policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified the colonial’s resistance to Britain and commitment to their new Enlightenment ideals. The policies involved many taxes which the colonists’ resisted due to their belief that such taxes without representation abused their rights. Americans began to look for political, economic, and social freedoms that Britain continued to deny them. They felt that the king was abusing his power as a monarch and therefore their rebellion was for a just cause of declaring the independence they wanted.
The forming of towns and communities together with their strict beliefs, lead to this superior number of Puritans. Because the land in the North was mostly infertile, people moved there to live their religious beliefs rather than for economic reasons which was the case in the South. Rhode Island, founded by the outcast Roger Williams, was the only colony that established complete religious freedom (also for Catholics and Jews) in New England. The Middle colonies had a remarkably high religious tolerance and democratic control; however, Jews and Catholics were not allowed to vote, due to pressure from London. This area was mostly inhabited by Quakers, that saw no threat from other religious groups.
Religious toleration in between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries varied greatly between the leaders during this time period; some wanted complete control over the religions practiced, some wanted some control with some freedom, and other leaders wanted complete freedom of religions. In the previous modern Europe, many states churches had been established by the rulers. Therefore, as a result of the Protestant Reformation, many states had a several religious minorities. Which lead to many different catastrophes that affected Europe in a negative way, people started to revolt and protest the ruler’s management of the states. Firstly, rulers in early modern Europe wanted complete control over the religions practiced in their states.
They were also a strict patriarchal society, in which Anne Hutchinson was casted out of Boston for directing a bible study without male authority. She and her many children left for Rogue’s Island. The New England settlements were mostly based on theocratic government, in which the church members would decide on standards at town meetings. This is compared to the Chesapeake Bay area where it was very religiously tolerant and churches were used mostly for storage.
They differed greatly in economic structure, religious beliefs, societal structure, and also population make-up. The two regions were very close, but in the end became two completely different regions with unique identities. The New England area was originally settled by people seeking religious freedom in the new world. They were primarily Puritan Separatists. They decided to come to the new world after the Church of England separated from Catholicism in a decision made by King Henry VIII.
Soon after, the two religions fought for power and later on in the century, the Protestant religion became prominent and the rivalry with Spain (Catholic) intensified. 2. Explain how conditions in England in the 1600s made it “ripe” to colonize North America. Religious intolerance and social stratification in Europe made many people yearn for new opportunities to be found in America. Because of religious intolerance, people wanted to escape the persecution and go to the new world so they could live their lives freely.