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What did Puritan laws govern?

What did Puritan laws govern?

Puritan law prohibited unlawful search and seizure, double jeopardy and compulsory self-incrimination. It also guaranteed bail, grand jury indictment and trial by jury. Rhode Island, though, proved an exception, taking nearly all of its laws from English precedent.

What form of government were the Puritans?

In the 1630s, English puritans in Massachusetts bay colony created a self-government that went far beyond what existed in England. Some historians argue that it was a religious government, or theocracy. Others claim it was a democracy.

How did Puritan beliefs affect Puritan government?

The Puritan system of government was a blend of theocracy and modern democracy. All members of the Puritan colony were required to attend church and to pay taxes to the church, but not all colonists were church members.

What was the motive of Puritan government?

Puritans believed it was the government’s responsibility to enforce moral standards and ensure true religious worship was established and maintained. Education was essential to every person, male and female, so that they could read the Bible for themselves.

Why punishment in Puritan society was so severe?

The Puritans believed they were doing God’s work. Hence, there was little room for compromise. Harsh punishment was inflicted on those who were seen as straying from God’s work. There were cases when individuals of differing faiths were hanged in Boston Common.

What did the Puritans not believe in?

They believed the Church of England was too similar to the Roman Catholic Church and should eliminate ceremonies and practices not rooted in the Bible. Puritans felt that they had a direct covenant with God to enact these reforms.

What was the impact of the Puritans?

the Puritans as a political entity largely disappeared, but Puritan attitudes and ethics continued to exert an influence on American society. They made a virtue of qualities that made for economic success—self-reliance, frugality, industry, and energy—and through them influenced modern social and economic life.

How did Puritanism affect democracy?

The American concept of limited government stems from the Puritan community. Puritans believed that no single person or group of people should be trusted to run the government. The Puritan emphasis on education led to an American school system whereby everyone is taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.

What did the Puritans forbid?

The Puritans had barely arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony when they banned gambling. Seven months after gaming was outlawed, the Massachusetts Puritans decided to punish adultery with death (though the death penalty was rare). They banned fancy clothing, living with Indians and smoking in public.

What basic principles did the Puritans live by?

The Puritans believed that they had a covenant, or agreement, with God, who expected them to live according to the Scriptures, to reform the Anglican Church, and to set a good example that would cause those who had remained in England to change their sinful ways. However, there was dissent within the colonies.