The past month now I have turned the page on the Age of Exploration with a very deep dive into the American colonial age. This is of course much thanks to my experience playing the game Assassin's Creed: Rogue which was set during the Seven Years War. I already made a proper study on the military conflicts between the Native Americans and European settlers which resulted in a series of conflicts known as the French and Indian Wars. In this post I'd like to stray away from the political and military affairs of the British colonization of the United States and rather focus on the religious and societal conditions of the time.
The establishment of St. Augustine of course did not occur peacefully and entailed battles with the French as well as the Natives of the region known as the Timucua. By 1567 Pedro Aviles had succeeded in securing the region for the Spanish Empire by building fortifications along the coastline and establishing peace with the natives. This settlement marked the northernmost point in the New World for the Spanish Empire. However it also became the target of English piracy and in 1586 the fortification was raided by Sir Francis Drake.
As demonstrated in the popular films Pocahontas (1995) and The New World (2005) the early settlement got of to a very rocky start. This was due to tense relations with the local Powhatan natives, who naturally felt their territory at threat. The early relations were peaceful for the most part however, much thanks to Captain John Smith's appeal to the chief's daughter Pocahontas. However the settlement struggled from sickness and starvation in it's early founding years. By 1610 the company reinforced the settlement with new supplies and workers, as well as new leadership.
Of the three main European powers who settled North America, France was the most agreeable to the natives. Nonetheless they also did have their differences and France would often use the natives for their own personal gain. The Iroquois were the most hostile towards the French settlements in Acadia and Canada. Despite having small numbers in comparison to the British colonies in New England, the French still managed to explore much more land. By the mid 1620s, under the encouragement of Cardinal Richelieu, the French extended their territory further west, including the Great Lakes.
The settlement of the Pilgrims is one that I have recently read about in Nathaniel Philbrick's novel; "The Mayflower: A story of Courage, Community, and War". In the book Philbrick gives a very detailed account of the Pilgrim's voyage and settlement in the New World. The group was a form of English Protestants, with Puritan/Calvinist beliefs, however they sought to break away from the Church of England. In 1607 they settled in Leiden, Netherlands for some time however were not able to adapt to the Dutch customs. In 1620 they were able to organize a voyage to the New World, with the financial investors and the approval of King James.
The Pilgrim colony was lead by the heroic Captain Benjamin Church in alliance with the New England Confederation. The New England militia did not receive any support from England in this conflict, and alongside Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 and Leisler's Rebellion in 1689, these events marked the beginning of Colonial military strength and independence. The Natives were eventually defeated by 1678 and in 1691 the Plymouth Colony became a part of the Massachusetts Colony. To this day the story of the Pilgrims' voyage on the Mayflower, landing on Plymouth Rock, and their first Thanksgiving have become iconic elements of American heritage.
The Dutch Republic had also become a formidable European force during the Colonial Age and sought to establish roots in the New World. In 1610 the Dutch East India Company hired the English explorer Henry Hudson to find a northwest passage to the Indies. While Hudson was unable to find this route thru the northern Arctic seas, he did however discover the New York Harbor and it's northern river, which later became known as the Hudson River. Thru Hudson's exploration of the New York Bay the Dutch were able to establish the New Netherlands colony in present day New York.
In the likes of the Pilgrims, the Puritans also sought to break free from the Church of England and establish a new identity in the New World. John Winthrop was one of their earliest leaders and established various settlements throughout the Massachusetts Bay such as Salem and Boston. This gave way to a mass migration of Puritans to the New World from the 1630s-1640s known as the Great Migration. Nearly 20,000 Puritan settlers spread throughout the New England region in the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
In 1632 George Calvert, 1st Baron of Baltimore received approval from King Charles I to establish a colony in the northern reach of the Chesapake Bay along the Potamic River. This would become a haven for English Catholics known as the Colony of Maryland. George however died shortly after the settlement, and the ownership of the new colony went to his son, Cecil Calvert. Cecil governed the colony from 1632-1675 and instituted a tact of religious tolerance which brought him the honorable title of Lord Baltimore.
The Swedish Empire had also risen to European prominence during this Colonial Age under the reign of Gustavus Adolphus. Seeking further Protestant expansion, the Swedish Empire had defeated the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years War and strengthened their hold on the Scandinavia region. The colonization efforts was headed up by the Swedish South Company who after various expeditions managed to establish a settlement along the Delaware River in 1638. Led by Peter Minuit the Swedes established the colony of New Sweden in the Delaware Peninsula.
During the 1640s many smaller religious groups sought to break away from the English Church and even apart from the Puritans, one of these groups included the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends). The Quakers were quickly considered a bit on the radical side, renown for their convulsive shaking in the presence of the lord. This small branch of followers were heavily persecuted in England and even later so in New England. However in 1681 William Penn was able to receive approval from King Charles II to establish a colony for their people in Philadelphia, which would later become a part of Pennsylvania.
Upon finishing my book on the Mayflower I decided to make a deep dive into this fascinating historical topic in Stacy Shiff's book "The Witches". This is yet another very detailed account of the events and trials that occurred in Salem during this time. I honestly knew very little about the infamous events until I read this book. On a side note as a devout Catholic, I generally tend to stay away from anything pertaining to witchcraft, horror, and the dark arts. However I am also an admirer of history and fantasy and greatly enjoyed the popular Harry Potter Books (which were entirely about witchcraft). Therefore I felt no guilt in approaching this historical book thru a purely academic approach.
The basis of the accusations were collected from various tests beginning with the Spectral evidence from the accusers. Many of the witches had various accounts of peculiar behavior and unorthodox powers, such as the ability to manipulate animals, fly on broomsticks, or even super human strength. Of course none of their suspected magical powers could ever be proved. There was however an inspection for the witch's teat (considered a mark from the devil) and the touch test (conducted during a victim's convulsion, if the accused touched them and the convulsion stopped, it was because the accused had afflicted the victim). Most of these procedures were very skeptical and the authorities essentially intended to intimidate the accused into a confession (which only a few did).
Yet another major historic atrocity during the colonization of the Americas (on par with the conquest of the Native Americans) was the subjugation of African slaves. As agriculture and trade began to boom in the New World, the need for laborers also began to boom and thus was born the slave trade. In 1526 the Portuguese became the first European power to acquire slaves from Central and West Africa and ship them to their colony in Brazil. Soon after the slaves became a vital tool in the Caribbean Islands and South America, working in fields of coffee, sugar, cocoa, and cotton plantations.
From the start of the European colonization of America it became a land of liberty and new beginnings. This was especially the case for religious freedom, which brought a vast variety of different backgrounds. For the most part these were Christians seeking to break away from the Church of England (whom never sent an official post to Colonial America). This included the Pilgrims, the Puritans, the Catholics, the Lutherans, the Quakers, the Jews, and various others. By the late 1680s it appeared the Puritans had the majority control of the colonies, however following the scandalous events of the Salem witch trials, the concept of a theocratic state began to wither.
It's funny how when we think of the history of the United States we often start with the Declaration of the Independence and the American Revolution. While this is no doubt the official starting point of the history of the United States, there were nearly 210 years of European settlement known as the Colonial Age. During this age of European settlement, America established it's roots as a diverse population seeking religious and personal liberties. It must have been a very exciting yet chaotic time where settlers were at odds with the natives yet also with one another.
I think it was around 2012 when I first began to develop a fond fascination with the region of New England. This was of course due to our family summer trip to Connecticut, Boston, and Maine. I especially enjoyed our day in Boston, filled with so much colonial history, and wished I could spend at least a week in the Massachusetts region. I remember around that time I made one of my first major deep dives into American history, studying every aspect of the American Revolution. I always enjoyed the 2000 film The Patriot starring Mel Gibson, however I became further enlightened by the 2008 mini-series, John Adams starring Paul Giamatti.
However when it comes to the colonial age (1565-1775) prior to the American Revolution, I know very little about. Sure I've known the basic stories about the Jamestown settlement and the love affair between John Smith and Pocahontas; then there's the Pilgrims voyage onboard the Mayflower to Plymouth where they shared the first thanksgiving with the Indians; and of course there are the infamous tales of Salem Witch Trials. However now I have begun a deeper dive into this historical context, especially since I have more free time these days. I have emerged myself into some great summer reading pertaining to the Native Americans, The Settlement of the North American Continent, the Mayflower, and the Salem Witches. In this post I intend to establish a historical timeline and better understanding of the European settlement known as the Colonial Age.
Spanish settlement in Florida (1565)
What's quite interesting to me is that the oldest settlement in the United States was not done so by the British yet by the Spanish. During the 1500s the Spanish Empire was the most powerful nation in the world and had already conquered and settled much of South America. It was in 1565 that the Spanish conquistador Pedro Menendez de Aviles established the settlement in northern Florida known as St. Augustine. It is today considered the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the United States. (This is of course excluding earlier Native and Spanish settlements that were abandoned.)
The establishment of St. Augustine of course did not occur peacefully and entailed battles with the French as well as the Natives of the region known as the Timucua. By 1567 Pedro Aviles had succeeded in securing the region for the Spanish Empire by building fortifications along the coastline and establishing peace with the natives. This settlement marked the northernmost point in the New World for the Spanish Empire. However it also became the target of English piracy and in 1586 the fortification was raided by Sir Francis Drake.
The Spanish were eventually able to regain control of the Florida region, however continued to be at odds with the growing English settlement to the north. The region of Carolina became the contested buffer zone between the St. Augustine settlement and the Jamestown, Virginia settlement. The fortification was once again sacked in 1668 by another English pirate known as Robert Searle. This intensified Spanish-English hostilities in the southeastern regions with the newly established British colony of Georgia waging an unsuccessful siege in 1740. By the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, the Spanish were forced to cede the territory of Florida to British control, while they gained control of the Louisiana region to the west.
English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia (1607)
Perhaps the better known American story of early settlement is that of Jamestown, Virginia. By the early 1600s the balance of power had shifted to England's favor upon defeating Spain at the Anglo-Spanish Wars by 1604. This gave way to an economic Golden Age under Queen Elizabeth and her successor King James who sought to acquire great wealth from the New World. Following several failed attempts to colonize Roanake in 1585, the Virginia Company of London was established in 1606 by wealthy merchants under a charter by the king, to colonize North America. In 1607 the first British settlement of Jamestown was established in the Chesapeake Bay.
As demonstrated in the popular films Pocahontas (1995) and The New World (2005) the early settlement got of to a very rocky start. This was due to tense relations with the local Powhatan natives, who naturally felt their territory at threat. The early relations were peaceful for the most part however, much thanks to Captain John Smith's appeal to the chief's daughter Pocahontas. However the settlement struggled from sickness and starvation in it's early founding years. By 1610 the company reinforced the settlement with new supplies and workers, as well as new leadership.
By 1614 the harvest of tobacco became a profitable commodity within the settlement and further encouraged English investment. This in turn encouraged expansion of the Jamestown settlement, and cultivators such as John Rolfe began to prosper in the region and later married the native princess Pocahontas. However following the death of Pocahontas in 1617, tensions with the local Powahtan tribes intensified more-so due to the continuing expansion of the British settlement. This gave way to the Anglo-Powhatan wars, a series of raids and conflicts which waged from 1610-1646.
By 1624 the Virginia Company's license was revoked by the king, and the settlement became a royal colony of the British Empire. By 1646 following the death of Pocahontas' uncle and tribe leader Opchanacanough, the Powahtan wars came to an end and there was peace in the region for some time. However the colony later became the site of one of the earliest colonial uprisings known as Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. The dispute was led by frontiersmen Nathaniel Bacon who sought to further acquire territorial region in Virginia from the natives. He was however opposed by the loyalist governor William Berkeley. Nathaniel Bacon thus organized a series of demonstrations and a militia that eventually burned the town of Jamestown. The uprising was later subdued by the British army and the town was eventually rebuilt and became a part of the new capital city of Williamsburg in 1699.
French settlement of Canada, Maine, and Louisiana territory (1608-1763)
By the 1530s, the French had begun to explore the Northern regions of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (in present day Canda). Jacques Cartier was the most famous of these explorers and established the Fort of Charlesbourg-Royal (present day Quebec) in 1541 however it last only a couple years. Nonetheless the French quickly expanded their interest in the region and profited from fur trade with the local Indians. By 1608 under the leadership of Samuel de Champlain, the French established Quebec City as the first settlement in New France.
Of the three main European powers who settled North America, France was the most agreeable to the natives. Nonetheless they also did have their differences and France would often use the natives for their own personal gain. The Iroquois were the most hostile towards the French settlements in Acadia and Canada. Despite having small numbers in comparison to the British colonies in New England, the French still managed to explore much more land. By the mid 1620s, under the encouragement of Cardinal Richelieu, the French extended their territory further west, including the Great Lakes.
By 1710 the French had a vast region of colonies in Canada with settlements in Quebec, Montreal, and Trois-Rivieres; as well as colonies in the Hudson Bay, Acadia, Newfoundland, and the vast region of Louisiana (a vast region in the present day Mid West, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico). However despite this vast region, the French never quite had the population compared to the English colonies. During the 1700s territorial hostiles between the French and English emerged which resulted in a series of French and Indian Wars. Despite their alliance with the Native Americans, the French were unable to sustain their territory and in 1763 they were forced to relinquish all their territory in North America to the British and the Spanish.
Pilgrims settlement in Plymouth (1620)
The settlement of the Pilgrims is one that I have recently read about in Nathaniel Philbrick's novel; "The Mayflower: A story of Courage, Community, and War". In the book Philbrick gives a very detailed account of the Pilgrim's voyage and settlement in the New World. The group was a form of English Protestants, with Puritan/Calvinist beliefs, however they sought to break away from the Church of England. In 1607 they settled in Leiden, Netherlands for some time however were not able to adapt to the Dutch customs. In 1620 they were able to organize a voyage to the New World, with the financial investors and the approval of King James.
With 102 passengers (half of which were Pilgrims, the other half were workers) they set sail across the Atlantic onboard the ship known as the Mayflower. After a very miserable 65 days they arrived to the Cape Cod Bay and eventually settled in Plymouth. Shortly after they established a new governing document known as the Mayflower Compact with William Bardford as their first governor. The pilgrims were able to establish much more peaceful relations with the Natives, then the Jamestown colony had. By 1621 they had coordinated a peace treaty with the Wampanoag tribe and their leader Massasoit. They also had a very helpful Native ally and guide known as Squanto. In 1621 the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags shared a feast to commemorate their treaty which would later become the famous harvest holiday of Thanksgiving.
The Pilgrims were able to establish a fairly independent society free from the English King's authority however they still ran into many problems early on. By the 1630s they found themselves joined by various other Puritan settlements within the Massachusetts Bay. This eventually lead to broken relations with the Wampanoags tribes and the eventual conflict known as King Philip's War. The son of Massasoit, Metacomet (also known as King Philip) had reached a tipping point with the English settlers extending their territory and united a great force of Natives against them. This was without question the bloodiest Native-European conflict of it's time, and went on from 1675-1678.
Dutch settlement in New York (1614-1664)
The Dutch Republic had also become a formidable European force during the Colonial Age and sought to establish roots in the New World. In 1610 the Dutch East India Company hired the English explorer Henry Hudson to find a northwest passage to the Indies. While Hudson was unable to find this route thru the northern Arctic seas, he did however discover the New York Harbor and it's northern river, which later became known as the Hudson River. Thru Hudson's exploration of the New York Bay the Dutch were able to establish the New Netherlands colony in present day New York.
Throughout the 1620s the Dutch built several fortifications and settlements along the Hudson River with an emphasis on fur and sea trade. By 1624 the island of Manhattan became the capital of the Dutch colony, known as New Amsterdam (later renamed by the British to New York City). Unlike their Protestant neighbors in New England and in Virginia, the New Netherlands colony was a state of free religion and free trade. However their colony in North America was short-lived due to heightened hostilities with the British. In the 1650s the Anglo-Dutch wars were fought over trade and naval supremacy. In 1674 the Dutch were forced to relinquish New Amsterdam and leave their North American settlement. The British renamed the colony as New York.
Puritan settlement in Massachusetts (1629)
In the likes of the Pilgrims, the Puritans also sought to break free from the Church of England and establish a new identity in the New World. John Winthrop was one of their earliest leaders and established various settlements throughout the Massachusetts Bay such as Salem and Boston. This gave way to a mass migration of Puritans to the New World from the 1630s-1640s known as the Great Migration. Nearly 20,000 Puritan settlers spread throughout the New England region in the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
The harbor of Boston quickly became the booming epic center of mercantile trade with Europe and other colonies along the Atlantic coast. In 1636 the oldest university in the United States was established in the town of Cambridge, known as Harvard. The Puritans quickly established a firm authority in the Massachusetts Bay, with a theocratic government. Some of it's most notable leaders were all clergymen such as John Cotton, Richard Mather, Increase Mather, and Cotton Mather. This region became the epicenter of King Philip's War and also the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 which brought a devastating tole to Puritan theocratic theocracy.
Catholic settlement in Maryland (1632)
In 1632 George Calvert, 1st Baron of Baltimore received approval from King Charles I to establish a colony in the northern reach of the Chesapake Bay along the Potamic River. This would become a haven for English Catholics known as the Colony of Maryland. George however died shortly after the settlement, and the ownership of the new colony went to his son, Cecil Calvert. Cecil governed the colony from 1632-1675 and instituted a tact of religious tolerance which brought him the honorable title of Lord Baltimore.
In 1689 however the Puritans seized control of the colony in a rebellion led by John Coode, that ousted Baltimore's Catholic leadership. By 1715 the Baltimore family was able to regain control of the region, however it had now become more-so Protestant dominated. Similar to the Colony of Virginia, Maryland had tensions with the local natives, known as the Susquehannock and also thrived off the tobacco industry. By 1706 the colony established a major port of trade known as Baltimore, which later became their capital city in 1729.
Swedish settlement in Delaware (1638-1655)
The Swedish Empire had also risen to European prominence during this Colonial Age under the reign of Gustavus Adolphus. Seeking further Protestant expansion, the Swedish Empire had defeated the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years War and strengthened their hold on the Scandinavia region. The colonization efforts was headed up by the Swedish South Company who after various expeditions managed to establish a settlement along the Delaware River in 1638. Led by Peter Minuit the Swedes established the colony of New Sweden in the Delaware Peninsula.
Fort Christina (present day Wilmington) became the center of operations for the Swedish settlement in the region that was quickly contested by the Dutch settlement to their north. The Swedes however were able to reinforce their position and also made good alliance with the Lenape and Susquehannock tribes. However with the onset of the Second Northern War in 1655 in Europe, the Dutch invaded the Swedish settlements in Delaware. The Swedes were ultimately able to win the war in Europe, however unable to win back their territory in North America. By 1664 both the Dutch and Swedish settlements were swallowed up by the British. Nonetheless the Swedes continued to populate the Delaware region and introduced log cabins and the new religion of Lutheranism.
Quakers settlement in Pennsylvania (1676-1682)
During the 1640s many smaller religious groups sought to break away from the English Church and even apart from the Puritans, one of these groups included the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends). The Quakers were quickly considered a bit on the radical side, renown for their convulsive shaking in the presence of the lord. This small branch of followers were heavily persecuted in England and even later so in New England. However in 1681 William Penn was able to receive approval from King Charles II to establish a colony for their people in Philadelphia, which would later become a part of Pennsylvania.
While the Quakers could be considered as the founders of the Pennsylvania region they were quickly divided in most political matters. They received heavy opposition from their Swedish neighbors in Deleware and their Dutch neighbors in New York. Soon other religions also began to populate the colony and the Quakers more or less were forced to relinquish their control of the area. Nonetheless however they still played a significant part in the colonies' business affairs. Their leader William Penn is often considered one of the earliest proponents for a United Colonial States free from Europe.
Salem Witch Trials (1692)
Perhaps one of the most egregious events of the Colonial Age (apart from the military engagements) were the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. This was a controversial event that to this day has spurred the imagination of writers, songs, movies, and the celebration of Halloween. Perhaps the most famous portrayal of this event was Arthur Miller's popular play, The Crucible. Miller used the historical events of the Salem trials to compare to McCarthy's Communist hunt during the 1950s. The with hunt of Salem in 1692 has become iconic imagery of the New England Puritan lifestyle during the Colonial Age.
Upon finishing my book on the Mayflower I decided to make a deep dive into this fascinating historical topic in Stacy Shiff's book "The Witches". This is yet another very detailed account of the events and trials that occurred in Salem during this time. I honestly knew very little about the infamous events until I read this book. On a side note as a devout Catholic, I generally tend to stay away from anything pertaining to witchcraft, horror, and the dark arts. However I am also an admirer of history and fantasy and greatly enjoyed the popular Harry Potter Books (which were entirely about witchcraft). Therefore I felt no guilt in approaching this historical book thru a purely academic approach.
The book deals more so with the legal proceedings rather than exactly what was going on. Witchcraft trials had reached a peak during the 1580-1670s in Europe with mass executions in the towns of Trier, Germany (1581-1593); North Berwick trials in Scotland (1590); Fulda trials in Germany (1603-1606) The Basque trials in Logrono, Spain (1609-1611), the Wurzbug trials in Germany (1626-1631), the Bamberg trials in Germany (1626-1631), and the Torsaker witch trials in Sweden (1675). The Salem trials were the first and most significant witch hunt that to this day has occurred in the United States. In the end nearly 185 witches were accused, 30 of which were found guilty, and 19 of which were executed by hanging (14 women and 5 men).
The event in Salem began with peculiar convulsions of young girls who were quickly considered bewitched and the girls began to accuse others of witchcraft. These accusations were deemed as spectral evidence, divine visions, which at the time was a justifiable means of legal procedures. Most the women accused were already deemed as odd, isolated, peculiar, and with prior accusations of witchcraft. However none had committed any serious crime besides a fascination with the extraordinary (what the Puritan authorities considered the worship of the devil).
The basis of the accusations were collected from various tests beginning with the Spectral evidence from the accusers. Many of the witches had various accounts of peculiar behavior and unorthodox powers, such as the ability to manipulate animals, fly on broomsticks, or even super human strength. Of course none of their suspected magical powers could ever be proved. There was however an inspection for the witch's teat (considered a mark from the devil) and the touch test (conducted during a victim's convulsion, if the accused touched them and the convulsion stopped, it was because the accused had afflicted the victim). Most of these procedures were very skeptical and the authorities essentially intended to intimidate the accused into a confession (which only a few did).
The trials of Salem are quite controversial even during it's time, because there was never any hard evidence that these accused had committed any wrong. The practice of witchcraft is no doubt something to be frowned upon, however if the person is not committing a crime, they should not be executed for their beliefs. The events in Salem can best be described as an early example of mass hysteria in which everyone was overcome by religious paranoia. This event ultimately marked a turning point in the Puritan theocratic system, by which religion could no longer over-cede matters of state and law.
Slavery (1620-1865)
Yet another major historic atrocity during the colonization of the Americas (on par with the conquest of the Native Americans) was the subjugation of African slaves. As agriculture and trade began to boom in the New World, the need for laborers also began to boom and thus was born the slave trade. In 1526 the Portuguese became the first European power to acquire slaves from Central and West Africa and ship them to their colony in Brazil. Soon after the slaves became a vital tool in the Caribbean Islands and South America, working in fields of coffee, sugar, cocoa, and cotton plantations.
In the early years of the British colonization of Jamestown, the British relied on indentured servants as means of their labor force. These were essentially Irish, Africans, and criminals working for their freedom. However by 1620 with the boom of tobacco in Virginia, the English partook in the slave trade and began importing African slaves from the Caribbean Islands. Unlike indentured servants, these Africans slaves were considered the property of merchants for life. While they were often given their separate homes with families, their children were also expected to be slaves for life.
From 1620 to 1865, nearly 600,000 African slaves were transported to America (many of which died on their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean). The peak of the slave trade occurred from 1701-1760 with nearly 200,000 slaves transported into America, mostly to the southern states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The northern colonies did not rely as much on agriculture labor, and therefore there numbers were far fewer (besides New York). This grave injustice eventually led to the American Civil War in 1861, and under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln the slaves were finally emancipated in 1863.
The First Great Awakening (1730-1740)
From the start of the European colonization of America it became a land of liberty and new beginnings. This was especially the case for religious freedom, which brought a vast variety of different backgrounds. For the most part these were Christians seeking to break away from the Church of England (whom never sent an official post to Colonial America). This included the Pilgrims, the Puritans, the Catholics, the Lutherans, the Quakers, the Jews, and various others. By the late 1680s it appeared the Puritans had the majority control of the colonies, however following the scandalous events of the Salem witch trials, the concept of a theocratic state began to wither.
However from 1730 to 1740 a significant religious revival occurred within the American colonies that later became known as the First Great Awakening. This ushered in a new era of Evangelicalism based on the principles of gospel practice, preaching, and a renewal of religious piety and enthusiasm. In essence it brought new life to the old and strict Puritan traditions, who in return accused these new Evangelicals to be practicing obsessive fanaticism. Nonetheless this marked a significant turning point in the religious history of Colonial America that gave way to new denominations such as the Methodists, Presbyterian, and the Baptists (which especially became popular among African Americans in the south). In essence this religious awakening could be seen on par with the colonial independence movement that had begun to stir in America.
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