Thus, the Massachusetts Bay colony was formed in the New World, the Americas, an ideal place for Winthrop’s “City upon a Hill”. The puritan way of life has fascinating similarities to modern-day American society. It can be seen how Puritan ways transcended throughout American culture, and still are the core of governmental ideologies and some American families today. Puritans took the word of the bible as their creed – and followed its teachings accordingly. The strict idealism of god and his power placed fear in children, for they believe their faults will be treated with adverse repercussions.
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.
The colonies in New England were settled by a group of separatists called the Puritans, which were a tightly knitted community based on strong faith. This community of New England Puritans influenced religious liberties, education, and obedience in the colonies from the 1630's-1660's by relating them to their religious morals and beliefs. ` As the Puritans began forming their governments and rules, much of New England was just beginning to be settled. Although in document E the Puritans thank their God for the their passage to the new world, much can be thanked to Martin Luther and John Calvin, pioneers of the Puritan religion. Once the grievances had been posted on the door of Wittenberg's cathedral, the idea of an alternative religion had been planted.
Establishment of freedom of conscience with equal civil rights for all, not the more limited toleration, was Penn's goal. After some colonial laws were established, Penn had finally achieved his goals and beliefs. Although, Penn’s inconsistent beliefs had him believing that people should follow rules, like the Ten Commandments, which makes his belief of liberty of conscience inconsistent. He believed that if all people lived moral lives in accordance with such basic tenets, peace and prosperity would come to the state. He did not respect all varieties of Christianity; he suggested restricting the rights of English Catholics.
The New England colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were conceived and established as "holy experiments" by the puritans. This group of English Protestants, whose only wish was to "purify" the Church of England, began to receive savage punishment from England for their religious beliefs. In turn, driven by religion, thousands of the religious zealots immigrated to New England to worship God in the way that they saw fit. However, although the Puritans did leave England, running from there own religious persecution, once they had established themselves they self-righteously employed the
His resolution to protest the unlawful marriage of King Henry and Anne Boleyn was rooted in Christian beliefs and morals. His refusal to accept the divorce of Henry and Catherine allowed for much speculation, however, More’s selection remained steadfast, as did his character, while enduring harsh criticism. More is truly “A Man For All Seasons” in light of his ability to remain true to his beliefs, family, and country when faced with adverse situations. More has been called the ‘hero’ of the play; hero according to the Concise English Dictionary is described as a man distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility and strength. To some extent, he is also A Man for All seasons.
Tocqueville argues that the only thing which will keep Americans away from these dangers, which would undoubtedly lead to despotism is religion as source of moral education. He says that all decisions by man are a result of the values which man has received from god and without these values we would be left to a life full of disorder. Religion indirectly affects the state through mores which are described as “the whole moral and intellectual state of a people.”(287) These mores are what prevents democracies from being engulfed by the dangers which are products of tyranny and despotism. In a state without religion “each man gets into the way of having nothing but confused and changing notions about the matters of greatest importance to himself and his fellows”(444) and when combating materialism, the presence of religion “places the
In the seventeenth century, Puritans came to the New World, known as America, to escape the religious persecution they faced in England. The New England Puritans were driven by the goal of creating a model or utopia society. Puritans believed that they were born evil and had to earn and work their way to salvation. This includes a total dedication to the teachings of God in addition to living hard-working and modest lives. Puritans also had to stray away from activity that would deviate themselves from the God’s teachings.
The Puritans seek to purify and reform the Church of England, making it less like the Roman Church, because they see their values as the only acceptable way of life. Puritanical values include the revocation of worldly possessions, devotion to their faith, and never ending love. To begin with, the Puritans practiced the revocation of worldly possessions in a way that consumed their everyday life. In Anne Bradstreet’s poem, Verses upon the Burning of our House, she wrote, “there’s wealth enough, I need no more; Farewell my Pelf, farewell my store. The world no longer let me love, my hope and treasure lies above.” This supports the idea of revocation of worldly possessions because she’s saying goodbye to everything she owns, thinking about the afterlife.
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.