Why America Was Colonized

A CITY ON A HILL

(Matt. 5:14)

Prior to the colonization of America it was not uncommon for the various denominations of Christians in Europe to dispute over theology (sometimes violently). For instance, in 1641 Catholics murdered about 100 Protestants. The Protestants, which had been held prisoner, and tortured, were marched to a bridge, stripped naked, and forced to jump off. Those who did not drown were shot. (1) In another incident, a group of Protestants castrated a priest, cooking and then forcing him to eat his own genitals. Afterward he was executed and cut open so onlookers could see their digestion. (2) Numerous other examples exist.

During this time in Europe the church and government were largely amalgamated. As such, often, a ruler was able to set not only civil policy but decree religious policy as well. One "sect" (or denomination) of Christianity, usually that of the ruler, was often "established" as the official denomination of the government. Observance of this denomination, and its manners of worship, were compelled by law. Those who spoke out against or deviated from this "established" religion of the state could be, and in numerous instances were, punished. Some were incarcerated, some groups suffered mass expulsion from their homes, others were tortured and/or executed.

In order to escape the oppression to which they were subjected in Europe for their religious beliefs groups of Christians began migrating to what is present day America. They came to the newly discovered continent, in their eyes a promised land in which they could worship Christ free of sectarian and state (government) interference, believing it would afford them the opportunity to found their own Christian commonwealths. Here they hoped to create a civilization dedicated to God and to expand his kingdom by bringing the Christian faith to lands and people who "yet live in darkness" without the light of God's word. They were not, however, in any way attempting to escape from, or abandon their Christian faith.

"The New England colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were conceived and established 'as plantations of religion.' Some settlers who arrived in these areas came for secular motives -- 'to catch fish' as one New Englander put it -- but the great majority left Europe to worship God in the way they believed to be correct. They enthusiastically supported the efforts of their leaders to create 'a city on a hill' or a 'holy experiment,' whose success would prove that God's plan for his churches could be successfully realized in the American wilderness. Even colonies like Virginia, which were planned as commercial ventures, were led by entrepreneurs who considered themselves 'militant Protestants' and who worked diligently to promote the prosperity of the church." - Library of Congress, Religion and The Founding of The American Republic.

Many of the colonies were founded with spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ as one of the reasons for their establishment. (Charter quotations sic erat scriptum.)

"We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God [...] in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet Government." - The First Charter of Virginia, April 10, 1606.

"In Hope thereby to advance the in Largement of Christian Religion, to the Glory of God Almighty [...] And lastly, because the principall Effect which we can desire or expect of this Action, is the Conversion and Reduction of the People in those Parts unto the true Worship of God and Christian Religion." - The Charter of New England, 1620. 

"Whereby our said People, Inhabitants there, may be soe religiously, peaceablie, and civilly governed, as their good Life and orderlie Conversacon, maie wynn and incite the Natives of Country, to the KnowIedg and Obedience of the onlie true God and Saulor of Mankinde, and the Christian Fayth." - The Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1629.

"George Calvert, Knight, late Baron of Baltimore, in our said Kingdom of Ireland, treading in the steps of his Father, being animated with a laudable, and pious Zeal for extending the Christian Religion [...] in the Parts of America, and partly occupied by Savages, having no knowledge of the Divine Being." - The Charter of Maryland, 1632. 

"Whereby Our said People Inhabitants there, may be so religiously, peaceably and civilly governed, as their good Life and orderly Conversation may win and invite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledge and Obedience of the only true GOD, and He Saviour of Mankind, and the Christian Faith." - Charter of Connecticut, 1662. 

"Our trusty and well beloved Sir William Berkley, knight, and Sir John Colleton, knight and baronet, being excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith, and the enlargement of our empire and dominions, have humbly besought leave of us, by their industry and charge, to transport and make an ample colony of our subjects, natives of our kingdom of England, and elsewhere within our dominions, unto a certain country hereafter described, in the parts of America not yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by some barbarous people, who have no knowledge of Almighty God." - Charter of Carolina, March 24, 1663. 

"Pursueing, with peaceable and loyall minces, their sober, serious and religious intentions, of goalie edifieing themselves, and one another, in the holie Christian ffaith and worshipp as they were perswaded; together with the gaineing over and conversione of the poore ignorant Indian natives, in those partes of America, to the sincere professione and obedienc of the same ffaith and worship." - Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, July 15, 1663. 

"To all whom these presents shall come, Greets. WHEREAS Our Trustie and wellbeloved Subject WILLIAM PENN, Esquire, Sonne and heire of Sir WILLIAM PENN deceased, out of a commendable Desire to enlarge our English Empire, and promote such usefull comodities as may bee of Benefit to us and Our Dominions, as also to reduce the savage Natives by gentle and just mamlers to the Love of Civil Societie and Christian Religion, hath humbley besought Leave of Us to transport an ample Colonie unto a certaine Countrey hereinafter described." - Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania, 1681. 

The Christian religion was a prominent factor in the colonization of North America and Christianity was at the heart of colonial governments. As seen with this early American governing document. 

"IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick. [....] Anno Domini; 1620." - Mayflower Compact.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Was Religion Still Strong In America?

"Against a prevailing view that eighteenth-century Americans had not perpetuated the first settlers' passionate commitment to their faith, scholars now identify a high level of religious energy in colonies after 1700. According to one expert, religion was in the 'ascension rather than the declension'; another sees a 'rising vitality in religious life' from 1700 onward; a third finds religion in many parts of the colonies in a state of 'feverish growth.' Figures on church attendance and church formation support these opinions. Between 1700 and 1740, an estimated 75 to 80 percent of the population attended churches, which were being built at a headlong pace." - Library of Congress, Religion and The Founding of The American Republic.

Records of the deliberations of the several colonies leading up to the Revolutionary war make it clear religion, and the preservation of religious liberty, was a primary motivating factor for the Revolution.

"This House having duly considered, and being deeply affected with the unhappy differences which have long subsisted, and are increasing, between Great Britain and the American Colonies, do resolve, that a meeting of Committees, from the several Colonies on this Continent is highly expedient and necessary, to consult upon the present state of the Colonies, and the miseries, to which they are, and must be reduced, by the operation of certain Acts of Parliament respecting America; and to deliberate and determine upon wise and proper measures to be by them recommended to all the Colonies, for the recovery and establishment of their just rights and liberties, civil and religious." - Massachusetts House of Representatives, June 17, 1774.

"We will always hold ourselves in readiness, in case of necessity, hostile invasion, or real danger, to defend and preserve to the utmost of our power, our religion, the laws of our country, and the just rights and privileges of our fellow-subjects." - Extracts from the Proceedings of the Committee of Fairfax County (Virginia), on the 17th of January, 1775.

And this "truth" was acknowledged long after the Founding of the republic.

"Our republic was founded on religious truth, and it was thus far emphatically a religious government. It has ever been sustained by the religious sentiment of the nation; and it will only fail when this element shall be discarded by the people." - Speech of Hon. J. R. Giddings, Of Ohio, In The House Of Representatives, 1838.

1. Library of Congress, Religion and The Founding of The American Republic.
2. Ibid.