Puritan: Churche and Goverment

During the 1630s to 1660s, Puritans to a vast extent powered the ideas and values on the New England colonies through the political, economical and social development with their belief in religion. Politcally, the did not divide the difference between the government and church. Economically, obtained a work ethic that allowed them to grow, and socially they expanded the knowledge of their religion and education. The Puritans had migrated to New England because they were unsatisfied with the Anglican Church in England and the forming of the Protestant religion.

After immigrating to New England a majority settled in Massachusetts forming the Massachusetts Bay Colony along with many other Puritan colonies. They came here in hopes of creating a theocracy, a way to have a new form of government and society. They wanted to escape the Catholic influence they had in Great Britain. They did have some political involvement with town meetings for the townspeople which they did not have in England.

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The line between church and state was unclear. Many of the colony’s laws were based on the people’s behavior and the Puritan values.

As Nathaniel Ward believed state laws should go together with the morals of the church. In the views of Puritans, the government should not have all the power because tribulations will occur and all order should be under the church. As Reverend John Cotton explicated, giving more power to man than is needed will only allow them to misuse it; therefore, they should only allow as much power that God gives to them by his word.

God is seen to be the leader, so the church displayed religious rules of the church which the colonies willingly followed.

They would not accept anything less from the people other than to serve God and be under his obedience for they lived life for Him. Puritans did not like the idea of freedom of religion. They wanted to be seen as only one religion because they believed having more than one religion would only cause conflict and disagreement. Puritans did not like the idea of freedom of religion; however, Roger Williams saw flaws in the Puritan views of the relationship with church and state. He believed that they should be separate which caused him to be expelled from the church.

They did not accept anything other than the belief that church was more important. Politically, Puritans carried their faithful obedience to God and brought government under the church. As they began to settle, their towns began to grow. Churches and schools sprang up to expand the knowledge of their religion. Schools were built to teach the children about the Bible and the importance of it in their lives. The people promised to put all their knowledge of God into the children and servants to the best of their ability (Doc C).

With the churches they wanted to expand their theocracy. John Winthrop, the leader in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote that they must all work together as one and help each other so that the could be led to the right path by God. Winthrop says that they are the “city upon a hill. ” With everyone eyes on them they needed to demonstrate the level of their Christianity. If they all have faith together and rejoice together, with the will to better their community God will present help for them. Puritans believed everyone should believe in God.

They looked to advance the education in New England with learning because of the effect it would have. They wanted to educate their ministers to stress religion so they built Harvard, the first college. They wanted to stress religion so they tried to teach it to those in school. The Puritans used the educational level of society to influence others of their strong religious beliefs. Puritans believed that a greater outcome will come if they worked hard. They thought prosperity and success would only come if this was done.

A hard working ethic was established due to this view and many gained determination. This allowed them to establish a strong commercial economy. They worked mostly on farms, which many were established in the colonies, and traded goods for other goods they did not obtain. Winthrop did fear that his people would have more satisfaction for the wealth rather than the “piety” that was presumed to bring financial plunder. Many built their economy with the trade of their goods and the farming techniques.

Farming took months due to the hard work that came with it and the short growing season. The Puritan commercial economy grew and many gained wealth from this, but they still looked to work hard and for piety for their success. The ideas and values of the Puritans separated them from other forms of people. Their way of thinking and views set up for a religious society was drastically diverse. The political, social, and economical development structured their way of living and their prosperity.