Dbq Puritan Values

The Puritan society was heavily influence by their religious beliefs. Their religious beliefs accurately describe how they influenced the development of New England. The Puritans believed in a simple economic situation, an equal and democratic political system, and a social system that relied heavily on the patriarchal head of the family. Their values shaped the economic, political and social development in New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s because of their strong ties to religion. Puritan values believed that men should only do enough to survive; therefore, they chose simplicity in their economic system. In Robert Keaynes will he said “[My account books]… testify to the world… I have had… many spare hours to spend unprofitably
Values held by the Puritans required them to attend church every Sunday. Because church was always attended by every member of the community on Sundays decisions about the whole of community could easily be made between the head of each household. They believed that each person should have no power greater than that which they will use. (Doc H) This insured that the leaders of the communities were not able to abuse their power. The power given to those leaders is not more than the power of those who give it. (Doc H) The people are more in control of their government. Court assemblies in the colony of Massachusetts insured that each community was brought together in order to make laws for the whole of the colony. The lasting effect of how Puritan values shaped development in New England from 1630 to the 1660s is not their values but the values which arose in opposition to Puritan values. Therefore you can say these other beliefs are directly the result of Puritan values. Roger Williams was a separatist that said “God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state…” This was the first notion in American history of the separation of church and state and heavily influenced development in New England. This led the way to founding of the city of Providence in which everyman held equal rights and voted on every
The church was the center of all social development in New England. This evident while looking at a map of a community in New England during 1630 to 1660s. The center of town is dominated by a church, village green, and town hall. (Doc B) These all tie together because John Wintrop the founder of a Puritan community said that everyone should work together for the good of each other because God commands it. This evident influence of church and religious values held by Puritans influence New England's development because the social lifestyle was led by the church and the social development determines the economic and political development. The reason political climate in New England was that everyone had representation is because everyone should work together. The reason why the economic development was simple and subsidiary was because everyone should only live for the after life. Puritan beliefs in predestination meant that everyone should always be on their best behavior. Their ideas of such strong religious ties in their social lifestyles led to a tight society and obedience of rules. Religious literature led to strict punishment of idleness in the state of government. (Doc C) They also led a patriarchal social life. "It is good forth wife to acknowledge al power and authority to the husband..." (Doc H) The strict social limitations of life in New England was