Puritan Aspirations

In 1629, a group of non-Separatist Puritans left England because of religious persecution. With a royal charter from the Massachusetts Bay Company, they aspired to create a society in Massachusetts that would be a holy model for the rest of the world. The ultimate goal of these people was to serve God through religion, commitment to work, and even worldly pursuits. Throughout the seventeenth century, the Puritans succeeded in creating a model society, at least to some degree. Despite failures such as the Salem witch trials, they made great strides in the development of democracy, capitalism, and education.
The Puritans of New England were united under a common purpose. In the words of Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop, they wanted their society to be "as a city upon a hill," a model for all of mankind. It was the duty of each member of the community to uphold strict moral standards and to make sure that others did as well. And while the idea of servitude to God helped maintain...