Religion’s Role in the Founding of Colonies
Colonies Founded for Religious Reasons: Plymouth Massachusetts – Rhode Island – Connecticut – New Hampshire Maryland Pennsylvania
Puritans—City Upon A Hill
Who were the Puritans?
How did they practice their faith?
Why did their utopia fail?
Turning point: Halfway Covenant, 1700 Gave citizenship privileges to the non-elect Greatest Impact: Protestant Work Ethic Town meeting—direct democracy
The Holy Experiment
Who were the Quakers?
How did they practice their faith?
Why did their Utopia Fail?
Turning Point: Colonial Wars 1749—Quaker Abdication Lasting Impact: Tolerance Pacificism Roots of Anti-Slavery Movement
As a result of the failure of the Puritan & Quaker attempts at Utopia: American Democracy is based on… Separation of Church and State Puritans: Separation resulted from a rebellion against the tyranny of an ‘elect’ religious minority. Quakers: Separation was a voluntary decision by a religious group that recognized that their civic responsibilities compromised their religious principles and ultimately threatened the salvation of their souls