Final answer:
The Puritans in New England ranged from learned ministers and members of the English gentry to farmers and laborers, reflecting a diverse social structure influenced by Calvinist theology and the desire to live a socially virtuous life in harmony with their religious beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social class of the Puritans who settled in New England reflected a range of positions within English society of the time. Many leaders in early Puritan New England were learned ministers from Cambridge or Oxford, but due to questioning the practices of the Church of England, they had been deprived of their careers. Other influential Puritans, such as Massachusetts Bay Colony's first governor John Winthrop, were part of the English gentry, suggesting a higher social status. These well-educated and often well-to-do individuals led many thousands seeking to practice Calvinist-based Protestantism without persecution.
The theology of the Puritans had significant implications for their social structure and daily life. They believed good works reflected the possibility of being among the 'elect,' those predestined for salvation, leading to a society that strove for industriousness and moral rectitude. Their concept of a 'model of reformed Protestantism' envisaged a community where the Bible and Calvinist theology served as a blueprint for all aspects of life.
On the lower end of the social spectrum, Puritan New England consisted primarily of farmers and laborers who were expected to work diligently in their various callings. This leveled society worked cooperatively on homes, farms, and businesses, reinforcing the Puritan ethic of hard work and community interdependence.