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Religion in the Colonies
Religion in the Colonies
was extremely diverse and many of the religious
groups, such as the Puritans and the Quakers
established the first of the 13 colonies on the
basis of their religious beliefs. The long,
hazardous, 3000 mile trip from Europe to North
America was undertaken by many in a search for
religious freedom.
Religion in the Colonies - The Mayflower
Pilgrims
The
Puritans who undertook the voyage to the New
World on the
Mayflower were led by
William Bradford.
These
Puritans were called
Separatists who believed
in a pure Christian church, with no
vestige of the Catholic religion.
They established the Plymouth Settlement in New
England who later came to be
known as the "Pilgrim Fathers" or simply as
the Pilgrims.
Religious Persecution in the Colonies - the
Puritans and John Winthrop
It
must be said that religious groups, such as the
Puritans, looking to escape from religious
persecution in their home country arrived in the
colonies and promptly established their own form
of religious persecution. There was no religious
freedom in the areas inhabited by the
Puritans
as they did not
tolerate any other form of religion. Their idea of
religious freedom was restricted only to the
Puritan religion.
John Winthrop, a powerful Puritan leader was
the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay
Colony. His Puritan religious group believed
that they would establish a pure church in New
England that would offer a model for all
churches. The Congregational Church eventually
grew out of the Puritan Church and was formally
established in the Colonial New England
colonies, except for Rhode Island who favored
religious tolerance.
Religious Persecution in the Colonies - Anne
Hutchinson and Roger Williams
Any
who did not conform to the Puritan beliefs were
called Nonconformists or Dissenters and were
severely punished. The punishments imposed on
the Nonconformists and Dissenters included being
fined, whipped and imprisoned. In some
circumstances those who refused to adhere to the
Puritan religion were banished from the colony.
Roger Williams
and Anne
Hutchinson were famous as early colonists
from the Massachusetts Colony who was banished
for their religious beliefs and fled to the
Rhode Island.
Religion in the Colonies - The Salem Witchcraft
Trials
The Salem
Witchcraft Trials occurred in 1692 and were
another example of religious fervor in the
Puritan colony of Massachusetts. The Salem
Witchcraft Trials lasted for three months
in which accusations of witchcraft were made
against both men and women. The Salem Witchcraft
Trials resulted in 100-200 arrests, 19 people
were sentenced to death by hanging, one old man
was pressed to death under heavy stones, one man
was stoned to death and two dogs were executed
as suspected accomplices of witches (familiars).
Religion in the Colonies - Religious Tolerance
and Diversity
Eventually this type of religious persecution
ended and other religions began to appear in the
Puritan based colonies. Other colonies were
established where religious tolerance was
exercised. The colonists from different
countries in Europe adhered to various religions
including Roman Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran,
Protestant, Anglican, Quakers and Presbyterians.
Religious diversity had become a dominant part
of religion in the colonies and colonial life.
Religion in the Colonies - William Penn and the
Quakers
William Penn
(1644-1718) was famous as a follower of the
Quaker religion and the leader of the Pennsylvania Colony.
William Penn promoted the ideals of religious
tolerance. He was extreme in his religious fervor and
whilst in England he strongly criticised the Church of
England (Anglicans).
Religion in the Colonies - The Catholic Religion
and the Glorious Revolution
Under the rule of King James II of England
(reigned 1685 – 11 December 1688) the American
colonists were under the direct control of the
monarch.
As a staunch Catholic, James II was attempting to
replace
Protestant institutions with Roman Catholic ones.
The
vast majority of Colonists were Protestants -
Only
1.6% of the population were Roman Catholics.
The
Protestants
detested the Catholics and feared the bloody
persecutions they had left behind in Europe. King
James II believed in 'the Divine Right of Kings'
and tried to create religious liberty for
English Roman Catholics and Protestant
nonconformists against the wishes of the English
Parliament
which led to the
Glorious
Revolution in which James was replaced by
King William III and Queen Mary II. The Glorious
Revolution and the subsequent revolts in the
colonies were precursors to the American
Revolution.
Religion in the Colonies - The American
Revolution
The
American Revolutionary War ended the rule of
the British and the religion in the colonies
based on the practises of the Church of England.
A separation from the Church of England was
forced because the Church of England clergy were
required to swear allegiance to the British
monarch. Different denominations were therefore
organized shortly after the American Revolution.
The different denominations consisted of various
unified religious congregations and churches.
The Religion in the Colonies adhered to the
religious practises of many denominations.
- Info
- 13 Colonies
- Englands
- Rhode Island
- America
- United states of america
- Flow Charts
- New World
- Catholic Church
- Lead Generation
- Info
- 13 Colonies
- Englands
- Rhode Island
- America
- United states of america
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