Essay #2: Religion in the Colonies

Should the “opiate of the people” cause this many extraordinary developments? In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his protests about the Catholic Church to the door of Wittenberg’s Cathedral, starting the Protestant Reformation and causing many Christians to separate from Catholicism. In the 1530s, Henry VIII severed ties with the Catholic Church and created the Church of England. Many people, later named “Puritans,” wanted to purify Christianity. As time passed, these people became upset by the lack of reform in the Church of England. When England began colonizing the Americas, many settlers sought to bring about religious change. Religion played an extremely significant role in the establishment of the English colonies in North America by giving incentives for the creation of early colonies, causing conflict which led to the founding of other colonies as religious havens, and being heavily incorporated into multiple colonial governments.

Two of the earliest colonies, Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth, were founded by Puritans seeking to avoid persecution. Massachusetts Bay was originally started as an economic venture, but it was made into a theocracy before the settlers even reached land. John Winthrop, who was a preacher on the Arabella, said that he wanted Massachusetts Bay to be a “city upon a hill.” This meant that they would be watched by the world and could not allow themselves to do anything wrong. He believed that God had created an agreement with the Puritans similar to the one he held with the people of Israel. He also believed that the Anglican church of England had gone astray and wanted to help fix it. As a contrast, the Pilgrims who founded Plymouth were separatists who decided that their differences with the Church of England could not be reconciled. They came to the New World with the hope of creating a sanctuary where citizens could worship in the “correct” way without being persecuted by the Anglicans of England.

Conflict between people with different religious opinions led to the creation of new colonies as havens for settlers with certain beliefs. Although the settlers of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth sought to avoid oppression based on their beliefs, they themselves oppressed others, such as Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson for their differing beliefs. Roger Williams believed in the concepts of separation of church and state as well as complete religious freedom. He was banished from Massachusetts Bay and eventually created his won colony, Rhode Island, where his views were incorporated into government. Anne Hutchinson publicly expressed her opinion that people could interpret the Bible themselves and that priests were not necessary. After being banished, she helped Roger Williams to found Rhode Island. Other colonies were also created as sanctuaries that provided freedom. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a haven for Quakers, but allowed settlers of many origins. Maryland, created by Lord Baltimore, was originally a haven for Catholics, but ended up being a sanctuary for all Christians because they were all given equal rights.

Religion played an important role in colonial government as well as providing an incentive for creation. Massachusetts Bay created a theocracy. Only adult males belonging to Puritan congregations were allowed to vote. Laws punished those who did not attend church or who did things considered to be sins. Anyone who expressed a differing religious opinion (such as Anne Hutchinson or Roger Williams) was banished. Plymouth had similar laws, punishing those who failed to live by “God’s law.” Rhode Island was the complete opposite. The government was created on the idea of separation of church and state. All residents were guaranteed religious freedom and religion was never incorporated into government in any way. This was very strange at the time because all other governments had specific religions that people were expected to follow by law. Pennsylvania was similar. William Penn, the founder, was a Quaker and believed in equal rights for people of all religions. He, too, incorporated this idea into his colony’s government. Lord Baltimore, founder of Maryland, was less extreme. He gave equal rights to all Christians, but persecuted people of other religions.

Religion played an extraordinary role in the shaping of the English colonies in North America. It gave settlers the incentives to come to America, caused conflicts that led people to found new colonies, and was used as a basis for multiple governments. Two of the earlier colonies were created because the Puritans and Separatists wanted places to worship without persecution. Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were founded by people who were persecuted in existing colonies and wanted safe havens for their beliefs. Religion was the main basis for government in Massachusetts Bay, while Rhode Island had separation of church and state as well as complete religious freedom. The English colonies never would have developed the way they did if there had not been so many religious conflicts and revolutions at the time.