How Puritan Ideas & Values Influenced New England Colonies

When the Puritans came to the Americas, they came with certain values and ideas. Between the 1630‘s and the 1660‘s these values and ideas later influenced the political, economical and social development of the New England colonies.

When it came to economic standings in the colonies, the Puritans believed that it was more important to worship God than to be worried about money. They believed that prosperity in the eyes of worship and religion was more important than prosperity in the manner of trade and goods. They believed that religion was more important overall, as stated in Document J. John Higginson stated “...that worldly gain was not the end and designe of the people of New England, but Religion.”

When it came to the effect that there particular views caused on the political development of New England, all one has to do is view a town map of a colonial New England colony, such as the one provided in Document B. The church was right in the middle of town, near town hall. Town hall was a place where the law were carried out, or at least where Puritans laws were carried out. Much of the trials held in colonies during this time was for “crimes” of religion, such as believing in another faith than the Puritans.

Finally, the social development of the New England colonies also was effected by the ideas and values of the Puritans. A Puritan household was very strict. The father was the head of the house, and the mother tended to him and the children. The children were to do chores, respect their parents and learn to read the bible. Some of the children’s chores was to pray. They were not allowed to have fun, because fun was against the Puritan religion.

As you can see, the social, economic and political development were greatly influenced by the Puritans values an ideas, which were based off of their religion. This greatly influenced the development of the New England colonies as a whole.