Puritan Life in 1600s New England Colonies

In the 1600s, the New England colonies were quickly developing because of the Puritans. Many great ideas and ethics were brought to the New World from England in a short amount of time. There was always a sense of order in their society, which was spread throughout the colonies. The importance of unity, education, and money greatly shaped the systematic life of Puritans.

John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, gives a speech while coming to New England in which he says, “Wee must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others’ necessities” (Doc. A). Unity was a key role in the Puritan life and without it, they would've fallen apart; Winthrop is telling everyone that they have to support each other in any situation in order to survive in the New World. Nathaniel Ward adds to the idea of unity that if people are “willing to tolerate any religion… besides [their] own,… the fiddle will be out of tune” (Doc. G). Simply put, Ward is trying to say that if people don't follow the same religion,

Robert Keayne said, “I have not lived an idle, lazie or dronish life… but have rather studyed and endeavored to redeeme my tyme…” (Doc. I). Keayne believed in hard work and knew that nothing in life would come easy; this taught him the value of money and showed him that being lazy is not the answer to anything. He felt that money is the most important aspect in life and nothing else would compare to it. In contrast, John Higginson said that “…New England is originally a plantation of Religion, not a Plantation of Trade…” (Doc. J). Higginson is attempting to say that above all else, religion is the most vital part of New England. It isn't about earning money or trading, its about one’s relationships with God and the dedication towards one’s religion. When one doesn't have money, he will look for peace and comfort in his religion. Without religion, a person ceases to