Final answer:
The belief that children were inherently bad and sinful in Colonial America was most likely derived from the religious culture and beliefs of the time, particularly the Puritan belief in original sin. The Puritans believed that children needed to be heavily disciplined and taught strict religious principles from a young age in order to counteract their inherent sinful nature and ensure their salvation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that children were inherently bad and sinful in Colonial America was most likely derived from the religious culture and beliefs of the time. The Puritans, who were a dominant religious group in the New England colonies, held a strict Calvinist belief in original sin, which teaches that all humans are born sinful due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This belief influenced the way Puritans viewed children and their natural tendencies.
The Puritans believed that children needed to be heavily disciplined and taught strict religious principles from a young age in order to counteract their inherent sinful nature and ensure their salvation. They believed that by subjecting children to strict rules and punishments, they could help them overcome their sinful tendencies and become morally upright individuals.
For example, Cotton Mather, a leading Puritan minister, warned of the consequences that would befall parents who neglected to educate their children, stating that their punishment would be terrible in the Day of the Lord. This emphasis on discipline and the belief in the inherent sinfulness of children shaped the educational practices and attitudes towards children in Colonial America.