Question

Summarize the unique new england way of life centered on family, town, and church, and describe the problems that affected this comfortable social order in the late seventeenth century.

Answer 1

The unique New England way of life was centered on family, town, and the church. And the corresponding changes that affected this comfortable social order in the late seventeenth century were:

Family: did everything they could to defend marriage and family values

Church: jeremiad preaching and half-way covenant

Town: Salem witch trials

Answer 2

The way of life in New England was very different to the one the colonists established in America. Most of the people who initially settled the colonies of New England were Puritans who were escaping religious persecution in England. Their lives, therefore, revolved around church to a great extent. Church was the centre of community life, while family was the focus of the home. Moreover, the town provided unity to the community.

However, this way of life eventually ran into problems as well. The population of New England began to increase, and this led to many problems. The religious diversity of the region increased, and with this, conflict did as well. Moreover, the large population required stricter government, and more tolerance towards diversity. These changes threatened the social order that had been established in New England.