Essay on Colonies
In the early 1600’s, the “New World” had a stream of English settlers coming to it. Some English settlers made the journey across the Atlantic in hopes of making a quick buck, while others made the journey in order to get away from the Church of England. Although their intentions and goals were different, they all agreed on the importance of religion.The majority of the settlers that landed in New England were there because they wanted religious freedom and a purified version of the Anglican Church. They saw the “New World” as a safe haven for their beliefs, where as the settlers in the Chesapeake saw the “New World” as an opportunity to make the money they couldn't make in England. Due to New England’s strong religious beliefs, government in New England developed a very close relationship with the church. The Chesapeake colony, on the other hand, was more concerned with wealth, therefore putting importance on religion in their government.
Religion had an enormous influence on the New England colonies. The laws and future government in New England were all based on religion. All the settlers living in New England were required to attend church regardless if they were church members or not. In order to vote or be eligible to hold a public office, a person must be a member of the church (a “freemen”). The church and the state were supposed to be separated, but obviously that was not the case. Another example is the Mayflower Compact, as well as the “city on a hill”. Puritan leaders according to Puritan principles and beliefs made the Mayflower Compact. John Winthrop’s “city on a hill” was in his words, “a godly community” and once again, based entirely on Puritan principles and beliefs. Due to Puritan beliefs, anyone in New England that had too much to drink was susceptible to arrest and the added humiliation of wearing the letter “D” in public. Men that had sexual relations with unmarried women were usually whipped, fined, or forced to marry the woman. Without a doubt, religion was what formed the laws and government in New England. Although, technically, they were separated, the church was the largest and possibly the only influence on the government.
The Chesapeake colony was influenced by religion as well. However, the attitude of religious practice was far different from that of New England. The people living in the Chesapeake area had lower standards and morals. It was a fairly common sight to see some of the Anglican clergy taking part in fox hunting, gambling, and drinking. The Chesapeake colony was apparently much more liberal than New England. It was also extremely difficult for the Anglican Church to take control of the Chesapeake area because they lacked bishops and the population was very spread out. Obviously the church did not control the daily lives of the settlers living in the Chesapeake colony. Settlers were more concerned with wealth and prosperity, and taking care of their tobacco crops. That is not to say that they did not participate in religion. They followed God and had their own religious beliefs. In 1649 they passed the Maryland Toleration Act, which allowed complete religious freedom. The creating and passing of this law showed that these people thought about more than just money. Religion played a role in the lives of Chesapeake residents, but not to the same extent as it did to New England residents.
The New England and Chesapeake colonies have one main thing in common. They are both influenced by religion. Other than that, they are almost complete opposites. It is hard to believe that the Puritans could be such hypocrites. They ran away from England because they did not have religious freedom, and they were afraid they were going to be persecuted. Then the Puritans came over to the “New World” and set up the exact same government that they ran away from in England. They did not allow any religious freedom, and they persecuted anyone that thought differently from them. They ran Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams out of the colony, and they set ridiculous Puritan laws on the colony. The church was the government, meaning that there was absolutely no separation between church and state. The only good thing about the Puritans was that they were not concerned with wealth. They were family oriented people and had very conservative views.
On the other side, the Chesapeake colony was just the opposite. They were too caught up in wealth, and they did not care about anyone else but themselves. Their lack of morals is what probably caused the slave trade to begin. They followed God, and they practiced their religion in their own way. However, the Chesapeake colony was not entirely consumed with religion. They were active participants, but they did not let it rule their lives.
Religion was important in shaping both the New England and Chesapeake colonies, but it had a much different impact in each colony.
Religion had an enormous influence on the New England colonies. The laws and future government in New England were all based on religion. All the settlers living in New England were required to attend church regardless if they were church members or not. In order to vote or be eligible to hold a public office, a person must be a member of the church (a “freemen”). The church and the state were supposed to be separated, but obviously that was not the case. Another example is the Mayflower Compact, as well as the “city on a hill”. Puritan leaders according to Puritan principles and beliefs made the Mayflower Compact. John Winthrop’s “city on a hill” was in his words, “a godly community” and once again, based entirely on Puritan principles and beliefs. Due to Puritan beliefs, anyone in New England that had too much to drink was susceptible to arrest and the added humiliation of wearing the letter “D” in public. Men that had sexual relations with unmarried women were usually whipped, fined, or forced to marry the woman. Without a doubt, religion was what formed the laws and government in New England. Although, technically, they were separated, the church was the largest and possibly the only influence on the government.
The Chesapeake colony was influenced by religion as well. However, the attitude of religious practice was far different from that of New England. The people living in the Chesapeake area had lower standards and morals. It was a fairly common sight to see some of the Anglican clergy taking part in fox hunting, gambling, and drinking. The Chesapeake colony was apparently much more liberal than New England. It was also extremely difficult for the Anglican Church to take control of the Chesapeake area because they lacked bishops and the population was very spread out. Obviously the church did not control the daily lives of the settlers living in the Chesapeake colony. Settlers were more concerned with wealth and prosperity, and taking care of their tobacco crops. That is not to say that they did not participate in religion. They followed God and had their own religious beliefs. In 1649 they passed the Maryland Toleration Act, which allowed complete religious freedom. The creating and passing of this law showed that these people thought about more than just money. Religion played a role in the lives of Chesapeake residents, but not to the same extent as it did to New England residents.
The New England and Chesapeake colonies have one main thing in common. They are both influenced by religion. Other than that, they are almost complete opposites. It is hard to believe that the Puritans could be such hypocrites. They ran away from England because they did not have religious freedom, and they were afraid they were going to be persecuted. Then the Puritans came over to the “New World” and set up the exact same government that they ran away from in England. They did not allow any religious freedom, and they persecuted anyone that thought differently from them. They ran Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams out of the colony, and they set ridiculous Puritan laws on the colony. The church was the government, meaning that there was absolutely no separation between church and state. The only good thing about the Puritans was that they were not concerned with wealth. They were family oriented people and had very conservative views.
On the other side, the Chesapeake colony was just the opposite. They were too caught up in wealth, and they did not care about anyone else but themselves. Their lack of morals is what probably caused the slave trade to begin. They followed God, and they practiced their religion in their own way. However, the Chesapeake colony was not entirely consumed with religion. They were active participants, but they did not let it rule their lives.
Religion was important in shaping both the New England and Chesapeake colonies, but it had a much different impact in each colony.
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