The years between the early and mid-19th century saw a tremendous growth of the Middle colonies, which comprised New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. A unique feature about these colonies was the population, a mixture of people with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. However, the Quakers dominated Pennsylvania and equally had significant influence in New Jersey (“Growth and Crisis in Colonial Society 1720-1765” 79). The growth of these middle colonies created a distinctively new American way of life that influenced American political thought. The numerous religious and ethnic groups allowed for the development of an open and pluralistic political system in North American colonies. For a long time, politics in the colonies was influenced by Great Britain, which was less completive given that North American colonies lacked political freedom. Enlightened colonists, such as Benjamin Franklin influenced regional politics due to their compelling political philosophies. Hence, as the colonies adopted religious freedom, new political perspectives emerged, prompting people to challenge the status quo.
Additionally, the Enlightenment and Great Awakening movements, which occurred almost concurrently, strikingly influenced American political thought as well. The Enlightenment stressed the importance of human intellect in affecting change in society. On the other hand, the Great Awakening was a religious revival movement that emphasized embracing new spiritual worldviews. Charismatic evangelists including Jonathan Edwards, Gilbert Tennant, and the most famous George Whitefield spread the good news of the Great Awakening extensively across the North American colonies (“Growth and Crisis in Colonial Society 1720-1765” 79). The preachers’ sermons inspired the congregation to question the authority of the clergy, religious taxes, and morality of competition for resources. The Enlightenment became deeply established in Philadelphia, with Benjamin Franklin being the American epitome of the movement. Although the two notable movements caused controversy for supporting the rebellion of the old lifestyles, many people subscribed to it as the population of the Middle Colonies grew. Gradually, the colonists applied the knowledge from Enlightenment and Great Awakening to challenge political and religious authorities. The newly inspired individuals influenced change in policies, politics, and culture in the colonies; for example, Benjamin Franklin contributed to the change in educational policies “Growth and Crisis in Colonial Society 1720-1765” 80). Whenever the British authorities changed, revised, or introduced new policies, the colonists could challenge since the two movements had revolutionized the way of thinking. Hence, the Enlightenment and Great Awakening played a central role in shaping the colonists’ ways of thinking, which significantly changed the way that the residents of North American colonies regarded the authorities.
John Winthrop outlined four distinct points to justify confiscating the ancestral Native Americans’ land. First, Winthrop argued that the Natives entirely depended on hunting and gathering and had no livestock to rear on the extensive territory (Winthrop). Hence, Winthrop theorized that with no cattle to feed on the vast lands, the Natives had no reason to deny the right of occupancy to the Puritans who had plans of managing and using the land appropriately. Winthrop explained how notable biblical figures such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not denied the freedom to graze their livestock in foreign lands. Winthrop opined that according to the Bible, the right to utilize land did not require any contracts (Winthrop). Second, Winthrop defended his decision to occupy Native Americans’ land by stating that God had killed a significant population of the Natives with mysterious illnesses rendering much of the land void of inhabitants. Third, in Winthrop’s view, there was sufficient land for both the Natives and the Puritans to share harmoniously. Lastly, Winthrop believed that the Natives could eventually allow them to settle in good faith. Thus, Winthrop offered compelling reasons for taking the Native American territory.
Works Cited
“Growth and Crisis in Colonial Society 1720-1765”. PDF file.
Winthrop, John. “But What Warrant Have We to Take That Land?” 1629. PDF file.