“in What Ways Did the Ideas and Values Held by the Puritans Influence the Political, Economic, and Social Development of the New England Colonies from 1630 Through the 1660’s?”
In the 1630's and the 1640's, the Puritans traveled to the colonies to detach from their opinion of a convoluted Church of England. They set up towns and started new lives that were all based on their idea of a pure religion. The Puritan's definition of a pure religion did not include many of the ideas of the Church of England. They built the colonies and made a system based upon the idea that God was the most important aspect of life. Puritan ideas and values influenced the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660’s by spreading their beliefs into every facet of daily life. Politically their ideas regarding what was considered sinful behavior and how power was separated among the men affected the colonies politics. Their ideas concerning materialism and trading shaped New England's economics.
Socially, Puritan ideas on community and doing God’s bidding made a lasting impact on New England. Many of New England’s political views were greatly influenced by Puritan beliefs in what they deemed unlawful and sinful. As mentioned in Document C, “We bind ourselves to study the advancement of the gospel in all truth and peace; both in regard of those that are within or without [church membership]…” In this excerpt from The Salem Covenant, the authors discuss the idea that the Bible is law, stating all people, regardless whether or not they belong to the church or not should abide by the words of God. The laws of many communities were built off of what was sinful to the Puritans, thus making many of these things illegal. It was also believed that the religious believers should have power. In Document H, John Cotton speaks about the limitations of the government, “It is therefore fit for every man to be studious of the bounds the Lord hath set: and for the people, in whom fundamentally power lies, to give as much power as God in His word gives men…” He essentially is saying that the men with whom power is given
Socially, Puritan ideas on community and doing God’s bidding made a lasting impact on New England. Many of New England’s political views were greatly influenced by Puritan beliefs in what they deemed unlawful and sinful. As mentioned in Document C, “We bind ourselves to study the advancement of the gospel in all truth and peace; both in regard of those that are within or without [church membership]…” In this excerpt from The Salem Covenant, the authors discuss the idea that the Bible is law, stating all people, regardless whether or not they belong to the church or not should abide by the words of God. The laws of many communities were built off of what was sinful to the Puritans, thus making many of these things illegal. It was also believed that the religious believers should have power. In Document H, John Cotton speaks about the limitations of the government, “It is therefore fit for every man to be studious of the bounds the Lord hath set: and for the people, in whom fundamentally power lies, to give as much power as God in His word gives men…” He essentially is saying that the men with whom power is given