Everyday life in the colonies consisted of many religion based activities. Each colony had their own way of life, and each colony's religion also shaped the way the people lived. The New Englanders came over seeking religious freedom, so religion played a huge part in their every day life and the characteristics that define them as Puritans. The Chesapeake region took a different approach, and did not put religion at the center of life. Both of these regions were in some way affected by religion, but each had their own way of incorporating it into every day life.
The New Englanders were traditionally hard-working, strict, and religious people. They wanted their colony to be a "city upon a hill." They thought that nothing in life was left to chance, and that everything was predetermined by God. Family was very important in New England. Mothers would have many children and one of the first things that children learned was obedience. From age seven on, children were responsible for their own actions. This is when they began their "training" to become good Puritan people. A difference was in the south, men often died, leaving their wife to raise children alone. This forced the lawmakers to give property rights to women. In the north, they feared that doing so would undercut the unity of the marriage. Education was another aspect of life that was heavily influenced by religion. The Puritans built the oldest corporation in America, Harvard College, to train young boys in the ministry. .
Religion played a major role in Government. New England was a theocracy, so churches were run by political leaders, and vice versa. Respect came from being involved in the church, so town meetings were led by the church leaders. Crooked politicians were often crooked church leaders, too. Two major types of churches were established; the Anglican in the South, and the Congregational in the North.
