Religious Persecution In Colonial America

Many religious peoples were being persecuted, and they were looking for a new place to put down their roots. Others fled the poverty of Europe to search for a better life in the Americas. No matter their reasons for leaving, people of all different backgrounds, origins, and religions came to the New World bringing with them their social and cultural traditions. The New World created a unique opportunity for people who used to be adversaries to come and coexist with the hope of a better future just as the Huguenots and English Catholics did. Seventeenth and Eighteenth century America was already showing signs of becoming what they would later be known as “the Great American Melting Pot”. Cultures from all over merged together, creating a uniquely American culture- taking influences from all the different colonists that settled there. There was no longer the Quakers, the Germans, or the Huguenots, they were all just American, and that’s what drew people to the New

Although European colonists traveled to colonial New England for a variety of reasons, they embraced Christianity as the primary purpose for their journeys. Furthermore, religion had a profound effect on everyday society and political hierarchies. From enforced morality to Indian conflicts, religion tended to destabilize numerous colonies and even led to unjustifiable atrocities like the Salem Witch Trials. Nevertheless, without a religious influence, the timeline of New World progression and territory would have been suspended indefinitely. Because religion primarily influenced the establishment of the colonies and numerous aspects of politics, it played an integral role in colonial New England society.

As religion proved indispensable throughout history, it was especially decisive in the initial development of the British colonies. Religious groups, such as the Pilgrims and Quakers, fled England due to the lack of religious toleration. Although spiritual freedom was the objective, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were the only

In recent discussions of religion and politics, a controversial issue has been whether or not religion has a place in our political decision-making. On the one hand, some argue that religion and politics should coexist for the greater good. From this perspective, the United States government should implement religious beliefs into all of their decision-making, because it is the right thing to do. On the other hand, however, others argue that religion has no place in politics, it clouds judgment, creates unfair separation against opposing beliefs, and does more harm than good. Religion has had its effect on politics since Jesus Christ was created. Laws have passed that are heavily influenced by the good book. In the words

The religion in the colonies that existed developed need for communities that supported the lifestyle. So, many seventeenth-century settlers

The first Colonial Americans came across an area they named Jamestown; which in our modern day we call this area Jamestown, New York. This was in 1606 while they were trying to escape religious persecution. These people were Catholic. They wanted religious peace.

The settlers from England came to the new world searching for religious freedom and a peaceful government. Later their faith becomes the significant guide to their success, which seemed to play a huge part in moving forward with their lives. Historians have identified a high increase of religious energy in the colonies after the year 1700. Their religion was on the increase rather than the decrease, another’s see a rising vitality in religious life from 1700 and a third of them find religion in many parts of the colonies in a state of intense growth. Most religions started between the years 1700 and 1740; it then changes in the near mid-century when the country experienced its first major religious recovery. Such as the Great Awakening,

“Religion is like a pair of shoes….Find one that fits for you, but don’t make me wear your shoes” (George Carlin). In the 1630 the citizens of England were forced to follow the religion that was set by the king and if not then they would have been executed. A religious group known as the Protestants fled their country in order to seek their religious utopia in which they found in America. Protestants wanted to seeke their utopia, or perfect place to live for the sake of themselves and their posterity,future generations, or heredity. John Winthrop who was their leader helps to guide them through their journey in seeking their freedom in the New world. Through his famous sermon “City upon a Hill” Governor John Winthrop’s vision in the New World

John Winthrop explained his vision for the Puritans in his sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” as they sailed to America. He believed that settling in America was a special agreement between God and the Puritans, which required them to create a model “city upon a hill” (177). This would allow God’s ideal society to prosper in the New World. Winthrop helped the Puritans transition spiritually and individually.

Religion during the Colonial Period was a new outbreak to many of the people traveling to the United States. Some people were traveling to the United States for a better life and some were traveling in search of fortune. Religion became a pivotal part of the survival of Mary Rowlandson and Cabeza De Vaca. Their religious views helped them in numerous ways, such as, to heal others, to escape from pain, and to survive the tortures they endured. The use of religion between Mary Rowlandson and Cabeza De Vaca was diverse in several ways during the Colonial Period, yet similar in the ways we use it today.

When looking at the history of Christianity, a common occurrence that is found is persecution. Christians have been persecuted throughout the history of Christianity, and it is something that still happens today. While Christian persecution in the United States is not much of a concern, persecution throughout the world is still a major problem. Muslim nations and communist nations still openly persecute Christians. The persecution of Christians around the world is unjust and needs to be stopped.

America has always been a safe haven for the religiously persecuted. The first people who came from Europe to settle didn’t come to make money, they came to escape. They were escaping the Church. The escapees were the ones who developed America and turned it into what it is today. Because of this, religion shaped all aspects of colonial development in 17th century British North America by establishing colonies, creating the first printed Bible, and odd claims against people in Salem.

The motives of the English people who migrated to America in the seventeenth century in order of most importance is; Escape religious persecution, to get wealthy, and to start new lives. Most of the colonies were created as a religious haven for those persecuted in England, such as Massachusetts colonies, Connecticut colonies, New Jersey colonies, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware and Pennsylvania. That's more than half of the colonies created for religious freedom. Other colonies were founded for purposes of wealth. Colonies like Virginia, Maryland, and The Carolinas. People were searching for gold and other expensive goods in order to get wealthy. This ties into the last point of many people wanted a new life. People in overcrowded England

There is no disputing the Puritans influence on the molding of our modern day ‘American Political’ and ‘Social Life’. Their ideologies and teachings have left a lasting impression on the American political and social landscapes. Like other Puritan leaders, Winthrop found his guiding principles in the Scriptures and in the teachings of Puritanism. But with the decline of the Puritan state, Americans began to find their guiding principles elsewhere: in egalitarianism, in radical individualism, and in capitalism. Yet the Puritan principles of hard work, independence, and moral strength, shown by men like John Winthrop, survived the passing of the New England way. Such ideals were major forces in shaping the American Revolution and in the growth of the new nation. Today they remain dominant elements in the cultural heritage of the American people.

Disputes between governments and tension between those with different beliefs since the beginning of time created a catastrophic predicament of migration, and people frantically fleeing their home. Starting in the 17th century a group of people who called themselves the Puritans became unhappy with the church of England and the way they ruled. They believed that the church needed to be purified, and their only option to change the church system was to leave England. They then began an extreme journey across the water to establish a new church. The Puritans main goal in migrating to America was to create what they believed to be a “city upon a hill”, which would be the guidelines and a model to other societies.