AP U.S. History
September 8th 2010
Mr. Irwin
"Religion shaping New England and Chesapeake Bay Colonies" Why is religion so important? Religion is an important means through which many people form an identity within their society. Religion gives people sanction and something to stand for and to live for. Religion greatly shaped the growth of colonial life in North America. Religion greatly shaped the growth of the colonial life in North America. The people needed religious freedom therefore they created the new colonies of New England and Chesapeake Bay. The two societies development was greatly influenced by religion. They both were founded by peoples of English origin, but they both had different religious background; New England was more religion based because those who came mainly came for religious salvation with their families while on the other hand those of Chesapeake bay were mainly single men in search of gold. The King of England forced all English people to attend his church, the Church of England, which at that time was a Protestant Church. All other religions were forced to be practiced secretly, and were oppressed by Protestant people. Christians, Quakers, Puritans, and many other religions, were desperate to find a way to freely practice their religion. These people soon started moving to North America, where they had complete religious freedom and also were able to govern by their own rules and not that of the King. Both the Chesapeake Bay and New England inhabitants were mainly Englishmen. Though they came to the New world for different reason, they came from the same motherland. The Puritans were a hard working, god-fearing people. After many years of religious prosecution in their homeland of England they sought out refuge in the New World giving birth to New England Colony. New Englanders established small farms, on which they raised corn and wheat, sheep, beef cattle, vegetables, and dairy cattle. The Pilgrims came to