Final answer:
The Massachusetts colony was settled by Puritans seeking religious freedom and reflected their Calvinist beliefs. Their faith shaped educational priorities and the political landscape, leading to the emergence of town meetings and documents like the Mayflower Compact. Despite internal conflicts, the colony prospered both religiously and economically.
Step-by-step explanation:
The English Puritan colony of Massachusetts was first settled in the 1620s and 1630s, originating from religious motivations. Early Puritans and Pilgrims, who were Calvinists, sought to live in accordance with their strict interpretations of Christianity, free from what they viewed as the corruption and insufficient reforms of the Church of England.
The settlers' Puritan faith heavily influenced the social and political organization of the colony. Since Puritans emphasized the importance of Scripture, education became central to New England life. This differed from Southern colonies, where education was a family responsibility. Industriousness was also seen as crucial, given the belief that idleness was an opportunity for devilry. Massachusetts Bay grew prosperous and, together with territories such as Plymouth and Maine, formed what would later be called New England.
The Puritan desire to 'purify' their practices affected the legal and civic structure—government reflected religious beliefs, evident in the Mayflower Compact's emphasis on founding a settlement for the glory of God and establishing civic structures reflecting the people's will. This proto-democratic impulse would later be seen in the town meetings across New England. Religious conflict within the colony occasionally erupted, notably during the Salem witch trials of 1692, but despite this, the colonies managed to achieve their goals of promoting Puritan ideologies and economic prosperity.