Puritains

In what ways did ideas and values held by Puritans influence the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s?

During the seventeenth century, political, economic, and social ideas influenced the development of the New England colonies. Although all of these types of values affected the development of the colonies, religious- or social- ideas impacted their development the most.

In Document A, John Winthrop states, “[We] must delight in [each] other; make other’s conditions our [own]; rejoice together, [mourn] together, labour and suffer together, always [having] before our eyes our commission and community in the [work], as members of the same body…,” saying that all of the people must work together in order to form a successful community. He then continues on to say that if the Puritans fail to do so, God will no longer continue to help them. If this occurs, the Puritans will be made fun of and be told as a story throughout the world In saying this, Winthrop is implying that religious and social ideas are very important within their society.

Document B also indicates that religious/social ideas were honored in the Puritans’ societies. On the map, the church and the school are located in the center of the town, near many of the houses. During the early seventeen hundreds, many schools taught children to read and write in order to be able to read the Bible and teach its ideas. Building the church and school in the middle of the town may indicate that the Puritans valued education and religion the most so they established their homes near and around these buildings in order to be able to easily access them.

Documents C and D both allude to religion as well. In Document C, The Enlarged Salem Covenant of 1636 states, “In public or private, we will willingly do nothing to the offence of the church.” suggesting that everything that the Puritan people will base their lives off of their devotion to God, and not do anything that would displease the church’s teachings. It also discusses educating the children and servants so that they can continue to spread the knowledge of God. William Bradford in Document D also talks about religion. He credits God with the colonist’s win over the Pequot Indians and thanks him for a speedy victory. Both of these documents imply that religion was a main form of influence on the growth of Puritan communities.

In Document E, Nathaniel Ward talks about how if a person tolerates any other religion besides their own, then they are not sincere in their devotion to the religion or doubt of its beliefs and teachings. He