Verified Document

Colonial Period Was Characterized By Term Paper

His narrative takes place during a period where religious dogmatism eventually changed towards tolerance. Through his direct actions, religious toleration expanded within new England as colonials recognized the need to create greater religious acceptance beyond Puritanism. In his essays, Roger Williams expresses his disgust at the inability of the colonies to deal with religious toleration. He is especially frustrated that Puritans, who were persecuted for their religious piety in England would do the same to condemn other religions in New England. He writes, "It is the will and command of God, that a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish, Turkish, or Antichrisitan consciences and worships, be granted to all men, in all nations" (Williams, npg). Williams identified the key contradiction within Puritan logic, the need to be strictly sectarian in the new world. When in fact, the concept of Colonialism depended on the granting of freedoms which could not be obtained within Europe. His essays defined the transition between the traditional views of Puritan dogmatism and the transformation into religious tolerance. In the end he was able to resolve such conflicts through the formation of Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, both bastions of religious freedom for diverse religious groups. The final writer within the Colonial period who had a significant influence upon the transitory conflict of Christian communities vs. outsider is John Woolman. Woolman was the best known Quaker of the Colonial period, and his work "The Journal of John Woolman" symbolized the conflicting attitudes of acceptance within this time period. Woolman was an ardent humanitarian and his Journal documents his journey not only through religious acceptance and the conflicts between Puritans and Quakers, but also the toleration of Native Americans and African-Americans. Woolman details how colonists were strongly antagonistic...

As a result, persecution was strong within many regions, especially the Boston area. This can be observed not only with interactions between Quakers, but through the negative treatment of Native Americans and slaves. He noted within his Journal "I perceived that many white People do often sell Rum to the Indians, which, I believe, is a great Evil" (Woolman, npg). Despite the fact that such antagonism existed during this period, Woolman showed that religious toleration was increasing within the colonies. This was especially evident in Pennsylvannia where the establishment of strong Quaker communities created a balance within New England. Woolman's account like the two previous authors revealed that the colonial period moved through strong conflicting stages, but that ultimately, balance was achieved and the social order restored through the shifting nature of colonial lifestyles.
In the final analysis, one of the greatest conflicts during the colonial period was on the theme of religious toleration. The majority of immigrants to the new world were those escaping religious persecution. When they established their strong theocratic societies, it left little room for religious freedom for other established religions. These three authors showed how social and cultural forces were factors in molding and defusing the situation and tension that was caused through religious persecution. In the end, the colonists were able to amicably compromise and create strong communities that did not rely solely on religion.

Strandness, T.B. Samuel Sewall: A Puritan Portrait. Michigan State UP, 1967.

Elliott, Emory. ed. American Colonial Writers 1606-1734. Detroit: Gale, 1984.

QUAKER JOURNALS, (Varieties of religious experience among Friends), Howard H. Brinton, Pendle Hill…

Sources used in this document:
Strandness, T.B. Samuel Sewall: A Puritan Portrait. Michigan State UP, 1967.

Elliott, Emory. ed. American Colonial Writers 1606-1734. Detroit: Gale, 1984.

QUAKER JOURNALS, (Varieties of religious experience among Friends), Howard H. Brinton, Pendle Hill Publications, 1972.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Colonial Landholding Elite Arequipa Peru
Words: 975 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Landowners in Colonial Peru by the author Keith Davies. Landowners in Colonial Peru In this book, Keith A. Davies writes about the families of Arequipa, that the Spaniards founded in 1540 in Southwestern Peru. These families belonging to the middle and upper class status acquired land and used its proceeds to attract prominent spouses, that way they could acquire prestigious political and military posts and also enhance their standing in the

Colonial America Exposed Through Social Classes
Words: 1728 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Colonial American Travel What was the new world like for its early European inhabitants? The book Colonial American Travel Narratives offers four interesting and insightful travel narratives that describe the new world and its varied inhabitants through the eyes, and thus personal outlook, of the authors. By doing so, the narratives actually provide insights into the individuals who went to this new land and the life they established. In most cases,

Colonial Class System and Genocide in Rwanda
Words: 1894 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Colonial Influences on the Rwandan Genocide The Colonial Roots of the Rwanda Genocide During a five-week period, between the second week of April and the third week of May in 1994 (Hintjens 241), close to 800,000 Rwandans were massacred (Storey 366-367). This represented a shocking 11% of the total population at the time. The killings continued into June of the same year, probably resulting in the deaths of another 50,000 men, women,

Women's Roles in New England During Colonial America 1700-1780
Words: 1932 Length: 6 Document Type: Research Paper

Women's Roles In New England During Colonial America Today, women still have not seen an acceptable level of equality compared to their male counterparts. Yet, the struggle for women's rights have improved conditions for modern women tremendously when compared to the roles that the sex was limited to play during the colonial period. In Colonial America, women were often limited to purely caretakers, dealing only with domestic and child raising matters.

British Imperialism Be Explained In the Colonial
Words: 1450 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

British Imperialism Be Explained? In the colonial period, Africa became the land of opportunity for Europeans who exploited the people and resources for profit. When Europeans went to Africa, home of black skinned people, they looked at the land as available to use as they wished. They never considered that this land belonged to its original inhabitants. Neither did they consider themselves thieves. They did not bother to think of

Early Colonial North America
Words: 1529 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

North and South The origins of the differences between the north and the south in early colonial America on up to the Civil War stem from political beliefs, economics, and social customs. The South was always more agrarian than the North. The South was also interested in controlling its own trade with other countries instead of having it controlled for them by a centralized government. That is one reason the South

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now