Why did john winthrop distrust the commons?

Answer 1

John Winthrop, the Puritan leader and governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, distrusted the commons, or common lands, because he believed they led to social disorder and moral decay. He feared that communal ownership could foster individualism and a lack of responsibility, undermining the Puritan vision of a tightly-knit, disciplined community. Winthrop emphasized the importance of private property as a means to promote accountability and virtue, aligning with his vision of a "city upon a hill" that exemplified moral integrity and social cohesion.