What was the role of predestination during the colonial period?

Answer 1

I assume you are asking about the practical effects of the belief of the Puritans (and other Calvinistic groups among the colonists) in this doctrine.

Simply put, for the Puritans predestination --referring to GOD'S decreeing what would happen (as opposite to 'blind fate')-- assured that human events and efforts had MEANING, because God's plans would be successful. This actually motivated them to work very hard, confident that as they sought to follow God their efforts would/could not be in vain.

This hard work was also connected to their conviction that those God had predestined (or elected) to save, would certainly bear fruit... so they sought to bear fruit, not to BE saved, but as an assurance that they were.

Answer 2

God ordained the success of the America before it happened.

Much too lazy on the question to get a real answer. Can I assume you mean the American colonial period and perhaps even narrow it down to the British colonization vice the French, Spanish, Dutch, etc colonizing efforts? Limiting it to British that leaves 1607 (ignoring the Roanoke expedition) until 1774 which give 174 years to discuss. Then limiting the discussion to the area Georgia to Maine, which area contains a large variation in population, economics, society, etc you still have a question not ready for answering.

The best way to answer your question is to say a very small to very large role.