The Influence of the Puritans on the US History

Throughout history, many colonies have been influenced by other people. For example, the Puritans influenced the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s in multiple ways. Specially, politically by coming up the idea of a united government which later on was used by the United States, economically by using fair pricing, and socially, because they had a big emphasis on church and religious beliefs. The Puritans had a huge impact on the political views on the New England colonies. They believed in predestination, in which a man is saved by God’s grace and thought that one could lead a New Testament life and still profit financially, leading to the Great Migration which lasted from 1629 to 1660. This was when England sent 185,000 people to the New World 25,000 were sent to New England, 50,000 to Chesapeake, and 110,000 to West Indies. The main reason they moved to America was because they were protestants who wanted to “purify” the Church of England and believed that the government should get all of its power from the people. According to Doc A “A Modell of Christian Charity,” written by John Winthrop, one of the first leaders of the Puritans who helped organize the migration, 1630. This document shows that the Puritans must work and live together to have a successful life and that being united and loyal to each other shaped the development of New England. In addition, they had to treat and help each other fairly in order for the colony to survive. During the journey he gave a sermon by describing what his expectations were for the new Purtian colony because he believed he was founding a “a city upon a hill”, which gave the world an example. To add on, Document F, “A Plea for Religious Liberty,” by Roger Williams, later known as the founder of Rhode Island and Document H “Limitation of Government,” by John Cotton both show that the government of New England was impacted.

Specifically, Document F shows that Roger Williams challenged religious authority by arguing for complete separation of church and state and as a result he was banished and fled. When he was banished from Massachusetts for his religious beliefs, he established a colony in an unsettled area after purchasing land from Indians. He named his settlement Providence, which eventually merged with other settlements such as Newport and and later became the colony of Rhode Island. Williams obtained a charter from Parliament in 1643 for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, which gave the colony the right to govern itself. Because of the Puritans intolerance of dissenters, it allowed the development of a new colony in New England. During this time, Anne Hutchinson questioned religious doctrines and the role of women in Purtian society and claimed to have direct divine inspiration causing her to also be banished to Rhode Island. Both Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson had antinomianism ideas which was not expected in the New England colonies. While Document H shows John Cotton expressing the need to limit governmental power because of the corrupt nature of human beings unless they were taught by God. He explained that they should not give men more power than they are content they shall use. They had town meetings named Town Halls where they settled legal disagreements and decided on the next town leaders however only white males who had land and were older than twenty-one could vote. Although this seemed very harsh and unfair this was the first form of democracy established in the Americas. Finally Document G, “The Simple Cobbler of Aggawam” written by Nathnieal Ward, explains the laws of the state should reflect the moral codes of the church. This can be connected to the blue laws since they both had similar purposes such as, limiting simple pleasures and suppressing some human instincts, in New Haven. For example, couples were fined 20 shillings for kissing in public and had to forbade stage plays, playing cards and dice. In addition, in New Haven, when they adopted Fundamental Articles if New Haven it caused stricter religious government ideas and remained independent until 1662. This shows that the Puritans mostly had a positive influence on government ideas. In conclusion, all of these documents represent the influence the Puritans had on the political aspects of life when creating The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and blue laws.

Social development in the New England colonies were also greatly influenced by Purtian ideas. Since Purtian settlers tended to go to America in groups they were able to create towns and communities a lot faster. Document B, a town map of colonial New England, shows that New England towns had a relatively high population density, and the church was occupied as the central position in New England towns because everyone wanted to go there. Puritans also lived in a theocratic society in which their system of government was ruled by religion, specifically, Puritanism and lived close together enabling Puritans to look after each another easily. In addition, their communities consisted of individually owned farms, town hall, common, village green, church, and schools because people were striving to better understand the ways of God and his people on Earth.They also built towns with church meeting house in the center where freemen conducted town affairs and enacted local ordinances. In the town meetings they elected town officials and representatives to serve in the colonial assembly and used direct democracy which provided the Puritans training in self-government. This shows that the Puritans used political ideas to create their society. In addition, Document E, a statement about education in New England, in 1643 shows that after the Puritans settled they sought to advance learning in order to have an adequate supply of ministers. This explains that Puritans valued education because when public education developed in New England the township system required new towns to have a minister. This document shows that they created an early form of education in New England known as apprenticeship, in which children were trained to work and were sent to “Dame schools” where they learned how to read. Puritans also believed that religious beliefs should be transmitted to future generations. In the future Harvard College, the best educational system they had at the time, was founded to train ministers allowing more educational opportunities to their communities. Later on, more college will be founded for religious and educational purposes like Yale and Stanford. Also, Document C, shows that the Puritans willingly followed the rules since they believed God wanted them to follow the laws of the church and state. Each member had a specific role to complete. For example, the men did all the essentials, like firewood, water, and sometimes fish to bring back to their cottage. While, the women cleaned the house, cooked, and went down to the river to wash their family's clothes. However, the men contained all the power and the women had to listen to what he said and do whatever he says. This can be connected to government ideas because leaders like John Winthrop, who was a religious person, threw himself into religious studies and prayers and eventually convinced people that God had elected him to salvation, making him a governor. To add on, Thomas Hooker, a Connecticut governor, adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a constitution and a framework for government which was based on an individual's rights, and free men.

The Puritans also economically put a lot of influence on the development of New England. For example, In Document I it presents that the power Puritans had over economic, which shaped the way they did their business. Also the Puritans believed in the Protestant work ethic and in moderation and self-sacrifice. Like I said before, Document A emphasized cooperation and community over the individual and almost every man had a job because they were more superior to women. The Puritans believed that the rich had an obligation to assist the poor and that the poor had an obligation to obey. According to Document J, “The Cause of God and His People in New England,” written by John Higginson 1662 reveals that conflict started arousing between religious and profit motives and the original Puritan mission was less important to second-generation Puritans in New England. This could cause economic changes to decline church membership because they were starting to lose influence on New England. This shows that Puritans started to not believe in religious ideas as they did before. Also people who made money had to remember the original religious purpose of the colony because they could've gotten distracted. To add on, Document D, tells us that the Mystic River attack was a fearful sight because there were horrifying sights and smells that everyone in the Massachusetts Bay had to experience during the Pequot War. It started in 1638 when a competition over trade arose with New Netherlands and friction over land creating hostilities to break out between English settlers in the Connecticut Valley and Pequot Indians. It’s also known as the bloodiest act of war becausewhite raiders under Captain John Mason set a Pequot stronghold on fire causing 400 Indians to burn to death or they were killed trying to escape. However, the people who survived were captured and sold as slaves.

However, William Bradford was still chosen repeatedly by the people of Plymouth Plantation (Pilgrims) as their governor, even though he advocated the people to set examples for other Christians and were less committed and less concerned about how they were viewed by others. Document D also shows that American Indian resistance was crushed early in southern New England. This can be connected to what happened in the Plymouth Plantation when Separatists left England for Holland to worship without interference so in September 1620, they set sail on the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock. They realized that they were outside of the London Co. jurisdiction so they agreed to sign the Mayflower Compact which proclaimed allegiance to the king. Even though the Puritans don't exist today, their influence still lives on. The Puritans influenced the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s in many ways. Specially, politically by coming up the idea of a united government which later on was used by the United States, economically by using a fair pricing system and socially, because they had a big emphasis on church and religious beliefs.