Colonies in New England

In history, a particular religion has helped regions develop and expand. Religion is formed due to how the region is shaped and transformed into a more superior region. In the 17th century, religion impacted the New England, Chesapeake, and Mid-Atlantic Colonies. Religion was highly important in the New England Colony, but not so much important in the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic Colonies. For each, there is motivation for the colonial development, which then leads to influences of religion, then to the religion itself in the colony. The New England colony is developed through depending on the ocean, influenced the “Liberty of Conscience” and others, and is strict with religion. The Chesapeake colony motivated through profit, influenced by the Maryland Toleration Act, and was lenient with their religion. The Mid-Atlantic colony shaped itself through their prosperous cities and being known for the “Holy “Experiment,” influenced by William Penn, and no single religion dominated, very free.

The colonies in the New England region mostly developed by the education for children and being dependent on the ocean. There were laws made for children to go to school, to read and learn the Bible. These colonies were very dependent on the ocean as their main source of income and their trades. The colonists relied on whaling, trapping, shipbuilding, logging, and most importantly, fishing. Rum was traded to West Africa in return for slaves. The “Liberty of Conscience,” the Halfway Covenant, and Anne Hutchinson were three major things that these colonies were influenced by religiously.. The “Liberty of Conscience” was the freedom to follow one’s religious or ethical beliefs. The church and state were believed to not be the same thing. The Halfway Covenant allowed children of baptized and uncovered church members to be baptized to become members of the church and have political rights. Anne Hutchinson, is a famous religious leader in history who inspired this region to grow. She was originally from Massachusetts, but she was banished for her religious beliefs and fled to Rhode Island where she could be a Puritan safely. The religion in the New England Colonies was very strict. These colonies were dominated by the Puritans, also know as the Catholics. The Puritans wanted to “purify” Christianity completely. For those colonists who were not a Puritan, Catholic, were kicked out because the Puritans were intolerant of any other religion.

The Colonies in Chesapeake Bay were motivated to develop because of profit. Profit was a major thing these colonies wanted. Crops and plantations were the main income for the Chesapeake colonies. In order to survive in the Chesapeake, plantations were the way to go. There were many slaves and indentured servants that worked on the big plantations, for those with smaller plantations,