Puritans: Bigots or Builders
The Puritans were a group of English Protestants of the late 16th and 17th centuries that did not have religious freedom under the Anglican Church, thus left for North America to create a "New England". In determining whether the Puritans were bigots or builders, one must take in consideration their overall impact on society, either "good" or "bad". The Puritans were intolerant, strict, and have not influenced modern day ways for the better. Thus, the Puritans are in fact bigots that had a negative effect on society as a whole. Comment by William Flaherty: You do not have to explain who the Puritans were unless it relates directly to the prompt! Comment by William Flaherty: briefly elaborate on how they were intolerant, strict and have not influenced modern society for the better! This is your "road map!" Your thesis statement needs more development! Who are your writing this to be read by????
Merriam Webster's definition for a bigot is a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc.
The Puritans fulfilled this definition extensively, they showed great intolerance towards any other group that did not believe in the Puritan faith, and banished anyone that was a threat to it. When Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson started to spread their beliefs that included more religious freedom, they were banished, Roger Williams banishment lead to his founding of Rhode Island. Rhode Island then became a safe haven for the banished and outcasts from the puritan Massachusetts. They believed that Roger Williams had "dangerous" ideas. These "dangerous ideas" are freedom of religion, which are our modern day beliefs in our country, and other colonies in the same time period had freedom of religion such as Pennsylvania, that also prospered. Mary Dyer was also banished, she was...