Why did people leave England in the early colonial times for religious freedom?

Question

What went on about religious freedom. Did the king try to kill people who were cathlic or did people kill all the lutherant. i need answers please. I just need details. I would be so thrilled if i got an answer



Thank u

i need some answers pleaze or if u have any idea where to find answers................this is urgent...........thanxs........just give me some history about why they left and how the Englanders were treated because of their religion.

Answer 1

The Puritans (whom have now evolved into Congregationalist) who where the first to leave England were, of course, Purist. They felt that England was becoming decadent and wanted to find a new place where they could worship their very stringent faith. The people of England were glad to see them go because they were real Party Poopers (there are even some accounts that they were forced out).
Over time more people came to the new land for their own reasons but that is why the Puritans came.

Answer 2

Oh for heaven's sake- I cannot believe the answers you got! You should have asked this on the homework section.

England was mostly catholic and at that time, the king had control over what religion the people practiced. Back in the mid 1500s, Martin Luther posted a list of questions he called the 95 Theses on the door of a catholic church. It was 95 points he wanted to discuss with the priests that came up in his study of the bible and catholic teachings. He was refused but people began to follow his branch of religion, still christian based but with a different interpretation. The established church did not like this. Another group had sprung up called the Calvinists, with the same type of premise. And of course, there were the pagans who still paid homage to the "old ways" of practicing more traditional religion. The king was losing control and let's not forget that the Pope carried a lot of weight then.
Yes, there was killing involved. The edicts went out that anyone practicing anything other than the approved religion would be killed or imprisoned. Many people left England because they felt they had the right to practice whatever religion they wanted.
By the way, over the years, some of the bloodiest massacres occured when one king/queen died and another of a different religion replaced them and decided to eliminate the followers of the other. Queen Mary was catholic and tried to destroy all the protestant churches, Queen Elizabeth was protestant and tried to destroy the catholics. When the Pope became almost too pwerful, the Church of England was founded, I believe by Henry the 8th, with the king as its leader. That way he would get all the power and money politically and religiously. But church of england is pretty much exactly the same as catholicism.

Hope this helped, and not too late.

Answer 3

Why do you so many answers think the English were Catholics
this is very untrue. The last time there was a king that was strongly suspected of being Catholic the people of the country were so upset that it led to the English civil war! perhaps some of the early colonials were Catholic as this religion wasn't tolerated until Victorian times. The Church of England was very particular about how its ceremony's were held anything to "Popeish" was frowned upon, the church walls had to have minimal decoration. There was little tolerance for varying opinions on how best to serve God. so if you're opinions were different from the Church of England's you could be accused of being Catholic or dangerously popish and would be punished by the law


PLEASE NOTE: THE ENGLISH HAVN'T HAD A CATHOLIC KING SINCE HENRY 8TH !!!!!!!!!!!

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND WAS NOT CATHOLIC

Answer 4

Although settled originally settled by some people who wanted to start their own religion, the place was populated with criminals much the same way Australia was. The English government thought by getting rid of the undesirable elements, the isles would stay pure. I know it's hard to find out any real facts about history. It's been rewritten so many times it doesn't even look like what I learned in school- not to say that was correct either. Just remember 'yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a present".

Answer 5

They were Puritans who were being prosecuted by catholics and protestants. They came here for no other reason then to be able to worship as they chose. All the "Christian" branches have persecuted each other because christianity has had and still has a big streak of hypocrisy in it.. It starts with the crap you have to beleive in Jesus to get to heaven. He started more misery then he ever did good with his religion. The quakers alone never persecuted anyone, and they don't kill under any circumstances. Of the Jews, Moslems and certainly Christians most of all, they are the only ones who have taken the ten commandments and obeyed them. Everyone else (especially christians) thinks they can ignore thou shallt not kill. I believe Christianity has turned out to be such a farce in so many ways (not that the catholic church and many others havent done a great deal of good) because Jesus really didn't and doesnt back what he said.

Answer 6

Wow you got a lot of silly short answers and some very long more historic answers. Basically the established (and only legal) religion in England was the Anglican Church, or the Church of England. If you were some other type of Protestant (like a puritan) or a Catholic then you had best get out quick while you still could. Or if you still could!

Answer 7

There was a Church of England, I'm not sure if it was necessarily Catholic or Lutheran, but it was a state Church. The people who left wanted to serve God in their own ways. Jesus Freaks by dc Talk mentions some of these early Christians. That is primarily why the Americans wanted freedom of religion when they formed our country.

Answer 8

Yes, people were persecuted and heavily taxed for being of the "wrong" faith. King George was a tyrant that made life a living hell for most of his citizens while he led a life of luxury. Imagine the desperation of those people that climbed aboard the substandard Mayflower only to suffer scurvy and multiple other diseases en route to the Americas. Many of the voyagers never lived to see the New World, but would rather have died than live in 17th century England.

Answer 9

There was no freedom of religion at the time in England. There was also corruptness in the church of England. People left to be able to worship God in there own way

Answer 10

Religious freedom is a misnomer. Most of the settlements were started so that other religions would not be present to interfere with their own. They were not usually actively oppressed in Europe, they were simply intolerant of others who did not believe the same way. Proof: When they started their American colonies, they were very intolerant of outside beliefs within their colonies (not a characteristic of one who believes in Religious freedom).