Post on 19-Jan-2016
Religion’s Role in the Founding of Colonies
Colonies Founded for Religious Reasons:
• Plymouth• Massachusetts– Rhode Island– Connecticut – New Hampshire
• Maryland• Pennsylvania
Puritans—City Upon A Hill
• Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Colony
• 1630• leader—John
Winthrop
• Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Colony
• 1630• leader—John
Winthrop
Who were the Puritans?
• Congregationalist• basic sinfulness of
humankind• predestination• the elect—“visible
saints”• self-discipline and
endurance of hardships • covenant with God
• Congregationalist• basic sinfulness of
humankind• predestination• the elect—“visible
saints”• self-discipline and
endurance of hardships • covenant with God
How did they practice their faith?
• the sermon—hell fire and damnation
• the meeting house—church and state
• intolerance
• the sermon—hell fire and damnation
• the meeting house—church and state
• intolerance
Why did their utopia fail?
• undemocratic—government by the ‘elect’
• lure of the frontier—encourage rebellion
• intolerance—banishment & witchcraft hysteria
• undemocratic—government by the ‘elect’
• lure of the frontier—encourage rebellion
• intolerance—banishment & witchcraft hysteria
Turning point: Halfway Covenant, 1700Gave citizenship privileges to the non-elect
Turning point: Halfway Covenant, 1700Gave citizenship privileges to the non-elect
Greatest Impact: Protestant Work EthicTown meeting—direct
democracy
Greatest Impact: Protestant Work EthicTown meeting—direct
democracy
The Holy Experiment
• Quakers of Pennsylvania
• 1681—founded by William Penn
• Quakers of Pennsylvania
• 1681—founded by William Penn
Who were the Quakers?
• the Society of Friends• human goodness—
God Exists in Everyone• truth & sincerity—
refuse to bargain• simplicity of life—
avoid luxuries• equality & toleration—
sexes, races, religions • pacifists
• the Society of Friends• human goodness—
God Exists in Everyone• truth & sincerity—
refuse to bargain• simplicity of life—
avoid luxuries• equality & toleration—
sexes, races, religions • pacifists
How did they practice their faith?
• prayer meetings• no formal church
leadership• missionary work• martyrdom• opened
Pennsylvania to all settlers
• prayer meetings• no formal church
leadership• missionary work• martyrdom• opened
Pennsylvania to all settlers
Why did their Utopia Fail?
• trials of governing—refusal to take an oath
• Pennsylvania frontier—war between non-quaker
• settlers & Indians
• trials of governing—refusal to take an oath
• Pennsylvania frontier—war between non-quaker
• settlers & Indians
Turning Point: Colonial Wars1749—Quaker Abdication
Turning Point: Colonial Wars1749—Quaker Abdication
Lasting Impact: TolerancePacificism
Roots of Anti-Slavery Movement
Lasting Impact: TolerancePacificism
Roots of Anti-Slavery Movement
As a result of the failure of the Puritan & Quaker attempts at Utopia:
American Democracy is based on…
Separation of Church and State
As a result of the failure of the Puritan & Quaker attempts at Utopia:
American Democracy is based on…
Separation of Church and State
• Puritans:• Separation resulted from a rebellion against the
tyranny of an ‘elect’ religious minority.
• Quakers:• Separation was a voluntary decision by a religious
group that recognized that their civic responsibilities compromised their religious principles and ultimately threatened the salvation of their souls
• Puritans:• Separation resulted from a rebellion against the
tyranny of an ‘elect’ religious minority.
• Quakers:• Separation was a voluntary decision by a religious
group that recognized that their civic responsibilities compromised their religious principles and ultimately threatened the salvation of their souls