Question

Assignment Instructions:

Since your assignment is to write ONLY one body paragraph using correct MLA format, the graphic organizer below does not provide for planning multiple paragraphs. However, it does provide a space where you should write a thesis statement for an essay as though you were writing the complete essay. From that point, select one of the points to focus on for your graded paragraph. Consider this a rough draft of your essay.

Task:
Write one BODY paragraph in response to the following prompt:

Prompt:
How did Puritan religious beliefs influence their society and laws?

Required Sources:
Use the informational texts Witchcraft in Salem and Puritan Laws and Character to provide evidence for your paragraph. Plan your paragraph on this paper and then submit your MLA typed response on Turnitin.com.

Answer 1

Puritan religious beliefs significantly shaped their society and laws, reflected in the Witchcraft in Salem trials derived from biblical interpretations and Puritan laws that regulated moral behavior. These laws affected aspects of life from dress codes to legal proceedings against witchcraft, as seen in the direct use of scripture in legal texts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Puritan religious beliefs profoundly shaped their society and laws, as they sought to create a community strictly aligned with their interpretation of the Bible. For instance, the infamous Witchcraft in Salem trials can be traced back to Puritan beliefs in the supernatural and the devil's presence on Earth.

Puritan laws were equally influenced, with many legal regulations mirroring biblical commandments, aiming to govern moral behavior and maintain a 'godly' community. Laws extended into the personal lives of the Puritans, controlling dress codes, Sabbath observance, and even individual practices such as drinking alcohol or engaging in entertainment.

For a focused body paragraph, we might consider how Puritan laws led to the persecution of those accused of witchcraft, pulling from the text "Witchcraft in Salem." For example, evidence such as "The legal basis for witchcraft in Salem was...'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live' (Exodus 22:18)" illustrates how scripture directly influenced the legal proceedings against alleged witches.

Consequently, it becomes clear that the Puritan aspirations of a society governed by divine law manifested in both their societal norms and formal legislation, revealing the inseparable nature of faith and governance in Puritan New England.