Economic vs. Religious
As the English civil wars commenced, the Great Migration and harsh persecution between Catholic and Puritan powers made religious concerns the primary cause of settling the British colonies; after the intensity of the British economic problems died down, the settling of the British colonies for economic concerns further died down; as a result, the statement that economic concerns had more to do with the settling of British North America than did religious concerns is somewhat invalid. As the civil wars commenced, colonies were founded as a haven for religious persecution back in England. Puritans want a “New England”. Separatists created the Plymouth Colony because they wanted to completely separate from the Church of England. Also they wanted a haven to live peacefully as English subjects and purified Protestants. Moderate Puritans create Massachusetts Bay, because they felt reform was too slow. Persecuted by Charles II and James I previously who felt resentment towards Puritans. “We shall be that city upon a hill” – Winthrop, founded to be a model religious society. Great Migration of Puritans. When there was a Catholic crown. Bloody Mary slaughtered Protestants. Wanted a place for them to create their model society. Connecticut founded by Puritans who wanted more church-government alliance, a religious concern. Maryland, a Catholic Haven In Protestant dominated England, Catholics persecuted. Lord Baltimore founded it for Catholics to have a haven. “Act of Toleration” created, settlers moved there for religious concerns. Colonies were founded to form an opposition against other religious policies like Rhode Island. Roger Williams was a radical Puritan, who questioned Massachusetts’s charter. Rhode Island where there would be religious freedom for all. Was created to spread his beliefs. Quakers William Penn wished to undergo his “Holy Experiment” Attempts to make Pennsylvania haven for Quakers and had religious toleration for all besides Christians and Jews.