Question

Why were citizens encouraged to read the Bible?

a) To become better farmers.
b) To promote atheism.
c) To improve their spelling.
d) To understand moral and religious values.

Answer 1

Citizens were encouraged to read the Bible to understand moral and religious values, a vital component of education for the Puritans and a tool for control and instruction on plantations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Citizens were encouraged to read the Bible to understand moral and religious values. The Puritans believed that education was essential as it was crucial for all who wanted to qualify for church membership to be able to read the Bible and explain the tenets of their religion. The ability to read and interpret the Bible was viewed as necessary for salvation. Religious services, which often included Bible reading, were also used as tools of control on plantations, enacted as a deterrent to uprisings, and to impose Christianity as a means of civilizing.