A Diversity Of Colonists

3 Pages 830 Words

When many of the settlers came over to New England, they had Puritan beliefs. John Winthrop, was the first governor of New England in the Massachusetts colony. According to Winthrop, God had entered into a covenant with the Puritans, just as they had entered into a covenant with one another. They had all taken risks coming to Boston, and they were going to find out if they could build a community based on the word of God (Boydston, 78). In Winthrop’s speech, “We shall be a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us,” he is saying that they will be a role model community and will have to live up to the expectations (Winthrop, 72). In order for their society to work, everyone would have to work together through thick and thin. By entering this covenant, the settlers had to establish a government and distribute the land that they held collectively (Boydston, 79). Social class was also important as the rich and powerful were supposed to take care of the poor and powerless. Town meetings were also held and people were elected to be in charge. In the home, parents were required to teach their children to read the Bible (Boydston, 81). Religion in this colony apparently played a major role in everyday life.
Pennsylvania took its name from its founder, William Penn. This colony found in 1681 demonstrated the potential of a colony that offered both religious toleration and economic opportunity (Boydston, 95). Penn looks at new colonies as seeds of their larger nation. A colony must look back to its mother country for help when first being established. Penn believes that plantations strengthen England for a few reasons. The industries of other plantations is worth more than if one would stay home. People experience all the necessities and conveniences in other plantations that they might not be allowed in their own (Penn, 74). Pennsylvania was in an ideal location for navigation due to the Delaware River...