How did the Reformation in Great Britain affect the colonization of the New World?
What don't you understand about bobpursley's response?
http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1300743181
I know that the Pertains went to the New World and that the colonization was based on freedom of religion and freedom for the people. But I don't know how the Reformation in Great Britain affected the colonies.
Tammy
Britain had been Roman Catholic. But the Reformation opened up Britain to Protestant religions. Because of discrimination in Britain, some of the Protestants emigrated to the American colonies so that they could practice their religion with no interference.
The Reformation in Great Britain greatly influenced the colonization of the New World. To understand the connection, let's break it down step by step:
1. The Reformation: The Reformation was a 16th-century religious movement that led to the creation of Protestant Christianity, breaking away from the Catholic Church. In England, the Reformation began under King Henry VIII, who sought to separate from the authority of the Pope and establish the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church.
2. Religious Motivations: The Reformation gave rise to various Protestant denominations, each with its own interpretations of Christianity. These religious differences played a significant role in shaping the colonization of the New World. Many English settlers were motivated by religious freedom and sought to establish colonies where they could practice their faith without persecution.
3. Puritanism and Separatism: One Protestant group that emerged during the Reformation was the Puritans. They sought to "purify" the Anglican Church from what they saw as remnants of Catholic practices. Some Puritans, known as Separatists, believed the Church of England could not be reformed and chose to separate from it entirely. They faced harsh persecution in England and began looking for a place to establish their own religious communities.
4. Establishment of English Colonies: The religious motivations and persecuted status of many colonists influenced the colonization efforts in the New World. Groups like the Separatists, who would later become known as the Pilgrims, sought refuge and established the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. They aimed to create a community based on their religious beliefs.
5. Expansion and Influence: As English colonization in North America expanded, other religious groups followed suit. Groups like the Puritans established colonies such as the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, among others. These colonies became centers of Protestant influence and had a long-lasting impact on the development of American religious, political, and legal systems.
In summary, the Reformation in Great Britain, with its religious motivations and subsequent establishment of Protestant sects, influenced the colonization of the New World by providing an impetus for settlers seeking religious freedom and creating the groundwork for the establishment of English colonies with distinct religious identities.