Many people felt oppressed or opposed the ways of life in their homelands in Europe, especially during the religiously turbulent times of the 1600s. In England, which had been switching between Protestantism and Catholicism over the last century, a new movement began of Separatists, or Puritans. Though England was Protestant at the time, they believed the current practices of the Church of England were too Catholic. They wanted to simplify religion, or “purify” it of Catholic practices, making it simpler and more about straightforward worship than the Catholic Church’s symbolic ceremonies. They believed in making a new place where they could practice their religion freely. Ideas such as that were encouraged by Sir Thomas More’s popular book Utopia, which depicted a theoretical “perfect” society, in which everything was shared and the people were treated fairly. Among the many details mentioned in the book was that in the perfect island of Utopia, no religion was banned or criticized, and those who practiced different religions were free to do so in peace (Doc. 2.1.) This idea appealed to the Puritans, who imagined their own American Utopia. Of course, freedom to practice religion was not the only thing that drew potential settlers to America. Two cousins, both named Richard Hakluyt, promoted the advantages of going to America. Their reasons to go included
Many people felt oppressed or opposed the ways of life in their homelands in Europe, especially during the religiously turbulent times of the 1600s. In England, which had been switching between Protestantism and Catholicism over the last century, a new movement began of Separatists, or Puritans. Though England was Protestant at the time, they believed the current practices of the Church of England were too Catholic. They wanted to simplify religion, or “purify” it of Catholic practices, making it simpler and more about straightforward worship than the Catholic Church’s symbolic ceremonies. They believed in making a new place where they could practice their religion freely. Ideas such as that were encouraged by Sir Thomas More’s popular book Utopia, which depicted a theoretical “perfect” society, in which everything was shared and the people were treated fairly. Among the many details mentioned in the book was that in the perfect island of Utopia, no religion was banned or criticized, and those who practiced different religions were free to do so in peace (Doc. 2.1.) This idea appealed to the Puritans, who imagined their own American Utopia. Of course, freedom to practice religion was not the only thing that drew potential settlers to America. Two cousins, both named Richard Hakluyt, promoted the advantages of going to America. Their reasons to go included