This area was mostly inhabited by Quakers, that saw no threat from other religious groups. Religion did not play a very important role in the Southern colonies because the people living there were mostly individual young men that traveled to the New World because of economic reasons and to make money. Although they tax-supported the Church of England (except for North Carolina) there was religious freedom to some extent. The distribution of the plantations and farms all over the country, in contrast to dense population and cities, also made it more difficult and expensive to establish churches. Catholic Maryland ensured religious freedom to all Christians which was exceptional since most Catholics were being prosecuted.
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.
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.
A significant proportion of the citizens of Plymouth were fleeing religious persecution and searching for a place to worship as they saw fit. The social and legal systems of the colony became closely tied to their religious beliefs, as well as English custom. In contrast to the Pilgrims, the Puritans did not want to separate from the church but rather reform it. However, the persecution of many Puritans in England in the 1620's led them to believe religious reform would not be possible while Charles was
Did the Puritans Really Come to America for Religious Freedom? Did the Puritans Really Come to America for Religious Freedom? Did the Puritans come to America purely for religious freedom? Many believe that religious freedom was the sole reason for their immigration to America. I believe that religious persecution was the principle reason for their voyage but also feel that their discontent with the English government played a key role in their leaving as well.
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). In New England, religion was considered to be most important thing while the colonists that landed at Jamestown in 1607 were not as religiously inclined as the Puritans. The History of Virginia, written by the leader of the colony, John Smith in 1624, describes how hard it was in the first few years at Jamestown (Document F). There was little food, new diseases, lots of quarreling between the settlers and they had many problems with the Indians (Document H). The colony was almost devastated before it had a chance to even be settled.
However, what was distinct between the Chesapeake region and New England was in the Chesapeake region family wasn’t much of necessity as duplicating some green. In the Chesapeake region their issues were Catholics, gender imbalance (being a 6:1 ration with men to women), indentured servants, Anglican church, farms and plantations leading to be the slavery generation. In order for both regions, the New England and Chesapeake, to prosper both had to have a settlement different to one another in order to achieve their goals. Ironically, both regions came to America to look for freedom, but both make laws narrowing down freedom rights of anyone not an Englishman. Exactly, why is freedom achieved only for Englishmen and not women or anyone else not of the European race?
Not just the way they were settled made them different but also how their religious ways shaped them up. Virginia and Massachusetts both knew they had to have a strong economic settlement but their religious view also had a great impact that resulted differently in both systems. The Puritans which lived in Massachusetts; they believed that there was no need for excessive profits. Another problem Virginia had was that from the start they had problems with the Native Americans. Which was the complete opposite in the Massachusetts case because they learned it would be better if they got along with the natives.
Doing this would make people unequal, which cannot happen in a true religious society. Anglican and Puritan churches were very dark and the ministers complained that they could sometimes not see the words to read. In the eyes of a Quaker this is wrong because light is a key point of worship. To show that light is an important part of Quaker worship the meetinghouses had large windows, bright interiors, and whitened walls. The Puritans and Anglicans
His knowledge not only served in the church, but also with well-known political names in American History. As history has taught, religious freedom was not always the case in early America. Catholics were forbidden public worship in the 1700’s. But American Independence from Great Britain that began in 1776, proved to be a turning point