answersLogoWhite

0

Religion in the American colonies was primarily Christian. The Puritans wanted to purify the Anglican church (Church of England) and founded their colony in the north east with this goal in mind. They belived in a fierce God who was ready to punish sinners, hence we have the Salem Witch Trials later on. Because they did everything for the glory of God, we get the vigorous and devoted Puritan work ethic. The Pilgrims on the other hand were in actuality Separatists who wanted to separate form the Anglican Church. Before they landed in Plymoth, they had gone to Denmark to escape persecution in England (which is the reason for most religious groups leaving Europe for America) and then decided to come to America.

The Spanish colonies in America were pirmarily Catholic as were the French. However, Lord Baltimore founded Maryland for Catholics to practice Catholacism in the New World. It was a place where people had religious protection to worship as they pleased. (But this was really specifically for Christians)

As American colonies grew, other forms of Christianity joined the party, so to speak. For example, the holiday we now know as Christmas (meaning Christ's Mass) was brought over by the Germans.

Judaism, Islam and other non-Christian religions were not prevalent whatsoever in the colonies because those followers were persecuted in America. It was not until later that the Irish Catholics or Jews came to America.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?