Final answer:
The Puritans influenced America's drive for independence through their push for religious freedom, establishment of education systems, and the promotion of virtues that underpinned American colonial society. Their model of a moral community and contributions to intellectual life helped shape the distinct American identity leading up to independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Did Puritans Influence America's Independence
The Puritans had a profound influence on the development of America and its independence, particularly with their religious and social ideals. John Winthrop's vision of Massachusetts as "a city on a hill" set a precedent for a society driven by strong moral values and community spirit. This aspiration toward creating a model Christian utopia contributed to the American ethos of distinctive community and governance, foreshadowing the drive for independence.
Moreover, the intellectual contributions of the Puritans cannot be overlooked. They established the first public school system and college in the Americas, emphasizing the importance of education and intellectualism. Their pursuit of religious freedom and their work ethic contributed to the development of American virtues such as thriftiness and social responsibility. Historians like John Gorham Palfrey and Samuel Elliot Morison depict the Puritans as hardworking individuals who promoted liberty and played a crucial role in the intellectual life of early America.
Despite some historians portraying the Puritans in a negative light as repressive and undemocratic, such as H. L. Mencken who saw Puritanism as fearful of happiness, others argue for their positive contributions to American society. The idea of the Puritans as torchbearers of liberty, who sought religious freedom and practiced a form of proto-democracy in the colonies, supports the notion that they were instrumental in shaping American independence and the nation's fundamental values.