The Search for Religious Freedom in America

In September 1620, 102 passengers and 30-40 crew members left Britain, fled a religious boat in a boat, and built a house in the Virginia colony. The situation is severe, and not all people on the ship can live in the new world. They were driven to the north and kept away from the destination of Virginia due to the strong winds and ruthless cold. In November three months after sailing off the coast, the crew found the land and they parked in Cape Cod. William Bradford, one of the signatories of the flower contract in May said, "All great and glorious actions involve great difficulties, both of which must overcome them with the courage they deserve Good lead, 2014).

From the early days of the colonial era, when several British and German immigrants called for freedom of religion, America was strongly influenced by religion. This influence continues to exist in American culture, social life, and politics. The Massachusetts bay colony was established by British Puritan (philosopher), Pennsylvania was founded by British Quaker. The British Catholic Church of Maryland State was founded in the Anglican Episcopal Church in Virginia. Nevertheless, due to intervention in religious conflicts and preferences in the UK, the "1740 Agricultural Act" will set official policies for new immigrants until the American Revolution.

Throughout the historical process many different people ran away from home to seek religious freedom. Many of them came to America to seek religious freedom. The two groups seeking freedom in America are Puritan and Calvinist. Both religions have many leaders, but two of them are higher than others. They are Jonathan Edwards (Puritan) and George Whitefield (Calvinism). These missionaries led the so-called revival among the early colonialists. The purpose of this paper is to show the influence of these missionaries on American settlers and their own religious beliefs.

The United States established the principle of freedom of religion. Before the establishment of the United States, it was the monarch who established the national religion. The first revision of the US Constitution established the principle of freedom of religion. This is a process from a pilgrim who is the descendant of the established England church. However, pilgrims and Puritans do not believe in freedom of religion. They think that this should be a church established simply. Protestant essentially contains the bud of freedom of religion. The central belief of Protestant is that the Bible needs to be regarded as a fundamental source of religious beliefs.