How Did The Reformation Influence The Settlement Of The American Colonies

The American Colonies: A Religious Haven

The Reformation in the sixteenth-century brought rivalry between the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches that had an impact on the exploration to the New World. The Reformation was a time period when religious curiosity was heightened due to the Humanists' spread of the word about the differences between the Church and the literature of Christian authors. The Church of England still required the people to worship God the way they taught and those who did not would face religious persecution. The desire for religious freedom motivated more people to settle in the American colonies due to the search for freedom from religious persecution, religious unity, and religious purity.

The search for freedom from religious persecution lead to the exploration and settlement of the American colonies. Monarchs believed it was their responsibility to make sure all citizens worshipped God the way they believed was correct. "All subjects of the English crown were required to attend the Church of England and pay the church a tithe. Failure to do so was a criminal offense and was punishable by fines, imprisonment, and even death" (Chapter 5 Lecture Notes). Religious

dissenters disagreed with the teachings of the Church of England and wished to live a life where they could worship their beliefs freely, without fear of persecution. When Englishmen heard of the availability of land in the New World, the dissenting religious groups saw this as an opportunity to form their own colonies where religion would be a freedom. Some of the religious dissenters are Roman Catholics, Puritans, Separatists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and Baptists who all have their own, distinct ways of worshipping God.
The search for religious unity lead to the exploration and settlement of the American colonies.

Dissenting religious groups wanted to be surrounded by others who worship the same religion as they do. "Pennsylvania was founded as a place of refuge for English Quakers" (Chapter 9 Lecture Notes). George Fox, a well-known Quaker, visited the American colonies and encouraged the idea of a Quaker colony in the New World. Quakers, unlike most religious dissents, rejected the expression of worship; therefore, there was no official church of the colony and settlers were free to practice as they pleased. With colonies composed of the same religious groups, there is less conflict when it comes to the official church in the colony and the way they choose to worship their

beliefs.
The search for religious purity lead to the exploration and settlement in the American colonies. Many religious groups believed the Church of England was corrupt in its teachings. "Disgusted by the coarse manners and general immoral conduct of their fellow Englishmen, the Puritans hoped to build a new, truly Christian community in the wilderness of the New World" (Chapter 7 Lecture Notes). Puritans viewed drunkenness, the usage of profanity, gambling, lust greed, and many other actions of the Englishmen did not fit the mold of a "good Christian". To ensure a more Christian community, the Puritans established a strict set of laws in their colonies that forbid such dishonest conduct.
The New World served as a sanctuary for those seeking religious freedom from persecution, religious unity, and religious purity. Any Englishmen that did not worship God as dictated by the English crown was subject to punishment that could be as severe as death. Many religious dissenters decided to form their own colonies in the New World so they could worship God the way they believe is correct. Religious groups wanted to be surrounded by others who worshipped God in the same way they did, forming a unified religious community. Religious unity prevents conflict between citizens with differing views on how to worship God and makes it easier to have a colony church. Many Englishmen believed the Church of England was corrupt and did not have a pure Christian following; Puritans and other religious groups wanted to purify the Christian faith by forming their own community in the New World. The desire for religious freedom motivated many people to settle in the American Colonies.