Foundations of Colonial America: Pilgrims and Puritans

Roots of Colonial America: Pilgrims, Puritans, and Settlers

The first Europeans to establish settlements were the Spaniards: there was a failed attempt in Carolina in 1526, and in 1565, they established a settlement in Florida, which became the first permanent European settlement. In 1578, Queen Elizabeth granted permission to British sailors to establish a colony. In 1584, Walter Raleigh sent two ships to explore, and they settled in Virginia. In May 1607, Jamestown was founded. Despite many deaths, the colony began to export tobacco. By 1710, the population reached 78,000.

Colonization was motivated by several factors:

• During the 16th century, England was a tumultuous place with food shortages and a lack of jobs in agriculture.
• The need to reduce demographic pressure.
• The desire for colonies to serve as markets for English manufactured goods.
• The need for raw materials to come from colonies to export goods to other countries.

Many settlers went to America to separate from the Church of England and establish religious freedom. Known as Pilgrims, they arrived on the Mayflower ship in 1620 and founded Plymouth. Native Americans helped them survive, and on "Thanksgiving" day, they invited the Indians to give thanks. Between 1630 and 1643, 9,000 Puritans traveled to Massachusetts Bay. Pilgrims and Puritans were both Protestants, but the Pilgrims (a smaller group) wanted to separate from the English Church, while the Puritans wanted to "purify" the English Church from the Catholic faith. Puritans were generally more literate.

The Puritan Character

Puritans saw themselves as chosen by God to create a new Christian utopia. They valued good behavior and religious purity. Church attendance was mandatory. They believed the colony would be blessed if they honored God and cursed if they did not. Every family member needed to be literate to read the Bible, leading to laws requiring schooling for all citizens. Their work ethic dictated that hard work was a Christian duty and a form of worship. Holidays and entertainment were largely eliminated from everyday life.

Dissent Among Puritans and Colonial Expansion

Anyone who challenged their practices was thrown out of the town. A Puritan minister named Williams preached that anyone could follow their own system of belief. He and his followers were banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They established a settlement called Providence and founded Portsmouth, which later formed Rhode Island.

Expansion of the British Colonies

Different economic systems developed between the Northern and Southern colonies. The South was primarily agricultural and embraced slavery, while the North developed a mercantile economy. The expansive growth of the English led to conflicts with local tribes, such as the Pequot Indians, resulting in the Pequot War of 1638. In 1691, the King required Puritans to tolerate religious dissenters and allow all male property owners to vote, regardless of church membership. This shift is believed to have led to the Salem Witch Trials. Eventually, the influence of faithful Puritans diminished until they disappeared as a distinct group.

The Puritan Legacy in the United States

Today, "Puritan" is often a synonym for someone who is prohibitionist, sexually repressed, or a fanatic. However, the Puritans left a significant legacy in American culture: a society mixing theocracy and democracy. Political activism was encouraged, and they developed their own system of laws to solve disputes without violence. The Puritan ideology emphasized individual choice and the social contract, as well as the importance of living an exemplary life with a strong work ethic.