Dissent from Puritanism Essay

During the early part of English colonization of the Americas the main group of people that were sent to the Americas was religious and political outcasts. This included Puritans, Quakers many other religions, debtors and political dissidents. The Puritans and Quakers came to the Americas in search of political freedom. The Puritans settled in the northeast region of the United States mainly in modern day Massachusetts. During their long nearly 4 month Journey across the Atlantic Ocean the boat goers grew close to each other because of the treacherous voyage. This caused theses people to group together and form towns with government based on their religion, Puritanism. Puritanism was one of the driving forces behind the formation of early successful northeastern towns and colonies in America. Many people who immigrated to the northeastern English colonies of the Americas had a strong dislike for Puritanism. Many believed the religion was too archaic in its beliefs and ways of life. Because of the animosity of non-puritans towards puritans and vice versa this caused the two peoples to form separate ettlements and very distinct cultures. Due to the differences in the cultures and the increase of immigration to New England the new settlers had to find new geographically suitable locations to start new settlements, therefore fully populating the entire New England colony. This gave New England a wide variety of culture, goods, natural resources and the capability to export large amounts of goods to the mother country for a profit. The non-puritans had settlements more based on economic ethics and systems that would financially help the settlement. Puritans had ettlements with more theocratic governments and more devotion to their religion. Although the governments of the two cultures were somewhat different they were also similar in many ways as well. Both governments were democratic. The puritans had a direct form of democracy where only white male land owners could vote. The problem with this is that once the colony started to fill it became harder and harder for young white men to find a piece of land suitable to settle on and start their families. With no land they had no say in their government as well. This drove many young Puritan Men to leave their theocratic settlements to seek other settlements where land owning was not necessary to have a say in government. This allowed puritans and non-puritans to culturally diffuse and further enrich the culture of New England. The non-puritan settlements had a representative or indirect form of democracy. These settlements followed a more English form of government. They also were mostly follows of the Anglican Church (the most common religion in England at the time). Because of the religious diversity in early New England and the abundance of natural resources (mostly large amounts of lumber) the colony was able to thrive. The religious acrimony between the puritans and non-puritans actually helped the English colony of New England reach its full economic potential by spreading out the population of the settlers. Many factors contributed to the formation of New England, but The objection of Puritanism and Puritanism itself was the paramount reason that New England did as well as it did and as early as it did. Dissent from Puritanism By halpin19