Religious Freedom in Jamestown

From its founding to its status as the first successful colony, Jamestown has always been influenced, by religion. From its charting call to spread Protestantism, to its interactions with the Powhatan Federation, and finally to its own religious reform, the Jamestown colony set the tone for religious freedom in the new world. Before the settlers left for Virginia, they were given clearly defined roles with regards to both their obligation to commerce and religion. "Men leaving for Virginia had to take an oath acknowledging the supremacy of the King, and the lack of power or authority over him by the Pope," guaranteeing that the new world would be Anglican (Marks 1). This also helped to ensure that the Church of England, not Rome, would have a strong standing among the converted natives. The First Virginia Charter outlines the King's mandates for the settlers to, spread the" Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility" (The First Charter of Virginia).

After surviving the trip from England, the settlers "quickly constructed small houses and a Church of England Chapel," so that they could easily worship and live while exploring the new world (Norton and Et Al. 43). Soon after the fort was constructed the English Colonists had their first interactions with the local Algonquian Indians. At first, "they expected native peoples to adopt English customs and to convert to Christianity," but the Powhatan federation was more interested in using the English as a source of power over other, smaller Indian tribes (44). The colonists then ruined their relationship with the Indians and were then faced with some of the harshest of living conditions. During the Starving Time, the settlement faced food shortages and sickness. During this time, "the flock was so generally demoralized by the hardships of Jamestown life that the ministers sent from London spent more time boosting spirits than converting Indians to Christ" (Beschloss 57). These hardships almost caused the fall of Jamestown and the leaders realized reform was a must.

After being faced with near starvation, the Settlement's leaders issued orders for marshal law. "Under the military rule…, church attendance was mandatory," in hopes of forcing the colonists to act in a manner that would be both pious and productive (Marks 1). While many voluntarily obeyed the rulings, by 1610 "encouragement of religious devotion by the pious leaders of Jamestown turned to brute force" where guards