Page 41 - All About History - Issue 08-14

What if...

THE PILGRIMS HADN’T GONE TO AMERICA

Had the English tried to go to America later, what might
have been the result? “ The Puritan work ethic was largely
If they had tried to take the settlements in the east away from
the Spanish, or French or whoever, there would have been responsible for the economic growth,
war. But over the centuries, so many different migrations
have happened to America – everything from Jewish people, making America prosperous”
Spanish, Russians, Poles, Irish and of course Africans, and
others as well as English that it is truly a mixture nation. could have inflamed the situation further. The English
Probably, in time the same thing would have happened Civil War was caused by a lot of factors, but on the one side
regardless of who settled on the eastern coasts. there was Charles I, who as head of the Church of England
wished to impose Episcopal rule on the rest of the country.
How would the history of the UK have been different if In England, politics and religion were closely related. With
the Pilgrims and Puritans hadn’t gone to America? the rise of the Reformation, many people saw from the Bible
It wouldn’t have made much difference to the UK, which (which was now in English) that the church should be run
trundled on in its own way through its own revolutions as the by elders, not priests. From these rose the Separatists and
seventeenth century wore on. The Civil War would still have Puritans, Presbyterians, Quakers, and all non-conformist
happened and the Puritan Cromwell would still have religions. Of these, the Puritans were the dominant party in
become Lord Protector before the return of Charles II and the England. To impose Episcopalian rule (rule by priests and
ousting of the Puritans. The Pilgrims themselves were not into bishops) on the church in Scotland, the King went to war
politics of any kind. They just wanted to worship God in their in 1639-40. He was defeated and the victors imposed heavy
way, they would have had no political influence and would fines on him that he could not pay, so he had to apply to
have kept out of the Civil War. However, it’s a different story Parliament for funds. However, Parliament consisted of
with the Puritans. There were not that many Puritans left in Puritans. Their involvement in politics brought them into
of religion.
the country but those who stayed meddled in politics that led head-on conflict with the King, and the war broke out in
to the Civil War. With more puritans in the country this 1642 with Puritans on one side and the King and Royalists
on the other. The Puritans won, the King was beheaded,
and Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector for 11 years,
during which time the whole country was now forced to
conform to Puritan ideas of religion, so there was no freedom

What might the America of today be like without the
Pilgrims’ and Puritans’ settlements?
With English dominant in America and the influence of
the Pilgrims and Puritans, religious tolerance was started
from early on in the country’s history. The English psyche, Have your say
almost to a man, is probably more dominant among that Do you agree with our
nation than religion and belief, is that a person’s religion is expert’s view?
his own business. With a difference influence – say that of
the Spanish Inquisition – America might have grown up a /AllAboutHistory
The landing of the Mayflower and its 102 passengers religiously intolerant country where other religions apart
in the New World of opportunity that was America
from Christianity were not accepted. @AboutHistoryMag
l Land sighted l Puritans land l Harvard formed
The Mayflower is nearing Thanks to a Royal Charter from The Massachusetts Bay Colony
its destination, and prayers King Charles I the previous year, the issues a grant to establish the
of thanks are given when Winthrop Fleet of 11 ships carrying first English institution of higher
land is sighted at the around 700-800 Puritans sails education on the continent; two
beginning of November. from England to New England. years later it is named Harvard.
November 1620 1630 1636

l The Mayflower Compact l First Thanksgiving l Spanish speaking l Home from home
41 male passengers sign The Pilgrims invite their Spanish becomes The Pilgrim
the Mayflower Compact, an Indian allies to a feast, the main language of colonies are well
attempt at forming a fixed, known ever since as the America and English established and
legally binding declaration first Thanksgiving, to is only spoken in they are free to
of self-government to celebrate the harvest and small pockets on the practice their
suppress dissent. their survival. great island mass. religion.
November 1620 October 1621 1710 1720

l No New World l Spanish inquisition l Puritans stay in England l Religious intolerance l No special relationship
News of the The Spanish begin to colonise Put off by the failed attempt Without the influence of the With the English influence
sinking of the large parts of North America by the pilgrims five years pilgrims – who believed in in America greatly reduced,
Mayflower and and turn their attentions to earlier, the Puritans stay in religious freedoms – America the country’s main language
the death of the east coast. They strongly England and do not travel to starts to become religiously becomes Spanish and the ‘special
the Puritans enforce the Catholic faith the New World in search of a intolerant of anything but the relationship’ between America
reaches England. through the Inquisition. new life. Christian faith. and Britain never develops © Corbis
1621 1625 1630 1670 1720 – present day
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