The Puritans In Early England

In the New World, colonies of Europeans were forming rapidly across the east coast. These colonies were seemingly founded on the ideas of oppression as well as dreams of wealth and glory, except for one particular group of religious colonists who dreamed of creating“the city upon the hill”. But who were these people and how did their ideas and beliefs affect Early America? In England a religious group of people known as the Puritans were finding themselves unhappy with the Anglican Church. The Puritans, numbered 102 men women and children, found themselves relocating to America and settling near Cape Cod in southeastern Massachusetts to escape the church and practice their own religion. Their mission was to build a society of independent farm

families as well as reform the Church of England. In the years the Puritans inhabited America, their religious beliefs and ideas on social, political, and economic development impacted the surrounding New England colonies.
The Puritans had a strong system of beliefs.

They were congregationalists, meaning they believed that every local church was independent or autonomous. Their first influential leader was John Winthrop. His ideal Puritan colony was to be one that resembled “a city upon the hill”, one in which all others would look to for guidance. The Puritans believed in model religious communities, where all was good and pure. Unlike Catholicism, the Puritans believed in The Doctrine of Elect, a predetermined list of souls to be eternally saved or eternally damned. Although the Puritans believed that souls had been chosen long before, it was still status quo to act as if you were one of the divine chosen. Those who did not abide by social standards were more often than not judge for their differences. To be a misfit was to be almost exiled. Those who did not fit the status quo or maintain a positive character were deemed odd and foreign. Social life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony revolved around church. Puritans were some of the most intolerant people around. Puritans believed in religious freedom for those who fit their mold, those who were their idea of a godly citizen. The Puritans also believed highly in a strong work ethic. To be lazy was to be sloth like, one of the deadly sins. To be sinful was to invite the devil and the wrath of God into the land, and those who did so were punished with great severity. The Puritans believed that through a strict religious lifestyle and a strong hardworking colony they could influence other communities and colonies to establish and abide by their laws and their

lifestyle.
William Bradford led the Puritans to America in 1620 on the Mayflower, landing in the area that would later be referred to as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Upon arrival the Puritans had no royal charter, “forcing” them to create their own system of government: The Mayflower Compact. The Mayflower Compact was the idea of “combin[ing] [The Puritans] together into a civill body politick.” The Compact proved to be the first American constitution. The Compact revolved around the idea that majority would rule, being an early form of democracy in the Americas. The Puritans believed that government was intended to enforce God’s laws, so because of this, both politics and overall life revolved around the church. All citizens were encouraged to be common church goers, although not everyone who attended church was considered a member. Everyone payed taxes to the church, whether or not they were a member of the church. The Massachusetts Bay Colony had a general legislative body, but to vote one must have been a white land owning male, who was not a religious official. The power of church officials was not absolute, and was determined by the people. These officials were not allowed to be political leaders. Although this is far less democratic than what is seen in today's society, it was advanced for the time period. A pure form of democracy that the Puritans practiced could be found in their town meetings. There, everyone, male or female, could discuss all things necessary to the community, then a vote would take place and the majority would rule. The Puritans form of government and politics influenced the New England colonies by spreading the ideas of democracy, but after the 17th century the Puritans stronghold on political influence faded off. Despite this, their ideas and ethics continued to have an effect on America.
It’s true that the Puritans came to America in search for a place to practice the freedom of their religion, but to do so, they knew they must first develop a strong economic background to sustain life. Their location made agriculture especially difficult. The soil was rocky, the climate was cold, wet, and unpredictable, often leading to very long and strenuous winters. After the Puritans experienced their first grueling winter, their original number of 102 had nearly halved. After learning to understand and adapt to their environment the Puritans were able to begin building their economic activity. Because of harsh terrain and climate, farming was minimal, whereas their close proximity to the coast allowed them to flourish through fishing and fur trapping. What small means of farming they practiced consisted of goods such as: barley, oats, and wheat. They lived in merchant communities and trade became the dominant means of obtaining wealth. As well as selling and trading their game, the Puritans were master shipbuilders. These colonists were able to successfully build a strong backbone of economic activity. All the success that came from shipyards and trading on the atlantic coast was beginning to worry many Puritans who still believed in the simplicity of life. The development of trade interaction with the Natives eventually began to lead to a new culture of materialism. The economic development of the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony not only led to the mass production of shipyards and sawmills, but to the overall materialistic nature of both the Natives and the colonists, eventually causing conflicts later in the 17th century.
The Puritans came to the Americas in hope of establishing “a city upon the hill,” and on their way to the top of said “hill”, they found themselves faced with challenges both socially, politically, and economically. Through their ability to combine their lifestyle with their religious and social values, they were able to exert a great amount of influence on American culture and character. The Puritans manufactured their own form of democracy, The Mayflower Compact, influences colonists and communities for ages. The Puritans ability to construct an economic backbone as strong as it was, despite the harsh weather and terrain, allowed them to not only survive and thrive, but influence the Native Americans and surrounding colonists. Despite their severe and radical religious views, the Puritans left a lasting effect on America, not only through their religion, but through their ability to develop socially, politically, and economically.