How Did Religion Influence Colonial America Today

America today has changed tremendously throughout the years not only politically but also religiously. From the first colonists who came to America for religious independence to todays melting pot of different religious and cultural backgrounds. They had to get their differences somewhere, and what better place than America. It all started in colonial America, with the first settlers. Among these colonists there are a few major names and topics that help to shape colonial America into what it is now. These individuals impacted America’s religious development greatly, with their new ideas and foreign advancements in religious prosperity.
We’ll start with the Puritans, who paved the way for religion in America considering they were some of the first British settlers in America. They moved here because they wanted to develop the church their way, and what better way to do that than to move to a new country. Their population was made up of English reformed protestants who wanted a different way of religion, this

form of religion was later called puritanism. Puritanism was a religious reform movement that arose within the church of England. These puritans also called “precisionists” (Puritanism), helped to led to the founding of colonies.
During this time King Charles I, was ruler of Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. But with his high Anglican form of worship, he wasn’t well liked in Scotland. Who liked to keep their worship as simple and elementary as possible. He also tried to force a new prayer book on the country of Scotland. This was one of the reasons he was later overthrown and imprisoned.
After King Charles I, was overthrown, a new “ruler” was chosen, though he never took the role of king, many wanted him too. He was a puritan, which substantially made him better liked then his predecessor. He then established a new body of evangelical preachers. Then later introduced the Blue Laws, a system of laws against blasphemy, cursing, drunkenness, and adultery.
From there new branches of religion broke off from the original protestant movement. One such branch being Calvinism, its founder being John Calvin, who broke away from the church because of his disbelief in having to pay for indulgences. These indulgences could be bought for a multitude of reasons. One such being, if one of your family members were to die and you thought they were going to hell, you could buy an indulgence which was suppose to absolve them of their previous sins. He also wrote a book on the disbelief of these indulgences called the, Institutes of the Christian Religion, written in 1536.
Many people took to this new form of teaching with devout devotion. Jonathan Edwards, was one such man. Along with being a devout Calvinist, he was also a puritan theologian. His preaching sparked fear into the hearts of his fellowship, while others of his time period tried to encourage love as the only aspect. His most famous sermon was called Sinners in the hands of an angry god, which spoke of god smiting all those who opposed him, or even thought of sinning.
Besides Calvinists, another form of follower to Calvinism was formed. They were called the Huguenots. French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin. Because of these religious differences they were forced to flee France. This was mainly due to religious prosecutions, that took place during the 16th and 17th century. Thus leading to many French people fleeing to America to escape death.
The Jesuits, a roman catholic religious order founded in 1534, by Ignatius of Loyola, spread throughout Europe like wildfire. Besides spreading their religion, they also tried to stop another popular religious reformation, the protestant reformation, with not much success. They then moved on to spread through Britain before moving across the Pacific Ocean to the colonies on the other side. They immersed themselves in the Native American’s culture as a way to try and spread their religious beliefs. Besides wanting to convert the Native Americans they also kept detailed records of their culture. Which was later published in the book, Jesuit Relations.
Now back to religion among the colonies, Roger Williams, who founded the state of Rhode Island.

He was a major advocate of separation of church and sate. With his many ideas some were bound to be incorporated into colonial teachings. The subsequent new colony was governed by the principles of separation of church and state. Giving new power to the colonists that were previously power poor. This idea was also used in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The final person on our list of important individuals, is Ann Hutchinson. A puritan follower, even going to such lengths as to follow another puritan leader, John Cotton to the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1634. John Cotton was the leader of her church, who was also banished by the Church of Boston to Massachusetts. Before she was banished she would hold gatherings at her home to bring attention to his theology. Which was subsequently the reason they were banished from the colony, on religious

principle.
Do to these people’s endeavors America is still a religious melting pot. Where everyone is free to practice their own religious beliefs, without fear of persecution. Whether they still follow the same teachings as those from colonial America, or they have found their own new practice. We are all free from religious tyranny, due to these courageous few who dared to think outside the box, and fight for what they believe in. Although these people were only thinking of their religious freedoms, they consequently changed the course of history by teaching later generations to fight for what they believe in.