Religious Influences on the Early colonies

Chapter Three The Establishment of the English 13 Colonies These are the four main points: I.Colonization – How did it happen, why were certain colonies successful? II.Government – What rules needed to be established in order to survive? III.Religion – Why did people leave Europe, what role does religion play and what impact does it still have on us? IV.The Land – How did the land and the weather impact the development of the United States?

A group of people travels months across the ocean in primitive sea vessel looking to sustain themselves and establish a community. What are the difficulties these groups face? 1. Fear of the unknown 2. Where their food source would come from? 3. What would they use for shelter? 4. What types of foreign danger was going to present itself? What was the reality of people leaving Europe to start a colony?

So the issue at hand is, how does the community get along? There has to be some set of rules or guidelines to follow. People have to agree and follow through the established rules or agreements or they will not survive! This is what we looked at: 1.What type of rules or government did the colonists come from, what were they use to 2.What type of agreements, rules or self-government was established with the colonies? 3.What type of government were the Native Americans using which might have an influence on the colonists as an example? Community

 The Pilgrims?  The Puritans?  The Quakers?  What about the idea of religious persecution and these people having to flee their country for America?  But what does this really mean? What do we really know about these groups of people and what is their story?  After all, these religious groups did leave a lasting footprint on our society which strongly influenced our culture and traditions. When you start to think about the early colonies, what comes to mind?

WHAT IS RELIGION AND WHY IS IT SO INTRIGUING OR IMPORTANT?  People are curious. They want answers.  Religion is the quest for answers.  People turn to religion in order to believe in something that cannot be expressed in a traditional manner.  Religion is a touchy subject and people have used this as a moral guideline for years.  Religion is an expressed belief.  Religion is a way of life and people choose to believe.  In essence, Religion is something people believe in which makes them feel safe.

Church History – Europe in the ’s  In the 1500’s Martin Luther challenged the Catholic interpretation of the Christian Bible.  As Luther's theology spread and became foundation of the Protestant movement.  In England, the King used the Protestant movement to break away from the Roman Catholic Church and to create an English national church, known as the Church of England or the Anglican Church..  The Catholic Church responded to the Protestant movement with both reforms and aggressive countermeasures.

Splinter Groups  A result of the Reformation there was the increase of religious groups who differed theologically with the Catholic Church of Rome.  These independent splinter groups each had their own version of the Christian scriptures should be read.  Since these groups did not fully agree with each other, they formed their own denomination in order to worship in the way they believed.  However the mainline established church in Europe did not tolerate these splinter groups and required them to conform or leave town.

Splinter Groups  As such many of these groups traveled to the Americas to escape the religious intolerance.  Religious diversity had become a dominant part of colonial life.  This idea of religious freedom encouraged many different denominations to look to the Americas.  Puritans - a group of people who followed the writings and ideas of John Calvin.  Quakers – A very conservative splinter group who breaking away from the Church of England.  Anglicans- The established church of England.

What did these religious groups Bring to the Americas ?  A cultural identity of hard work, a solid education for their children, and a representative form of government.  The Puritans in the New England area was a dominant cultural force that their values still influences our country today.  These groups also brought a sense of community or belonging.  It was this sense of community which is the foundation of our American identity.  Who we are as people and the perseverance we have to overcome all our problem to become the great nation we are

What is the Church v. State issue?