What was the primary religion practiced by the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

The primary religion practiced by the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was Puritanism. The Puritans were a group of English Protestants who sought to "purify" the Church of England from what they considered remnants of Catholicism. They valued a strict moral code, emphasized the need for personal piety, and believed in the importance of a close community where religion played a central role in daily life.

When the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established in 1630, it became a refuge for Puritans escaping religious persecution in England. The colony's leaders, such as John Winthrop, envisioned it as a "city upon a hill," a model of Puritan piety and a society governed by religious principles. The focus on a theocratic governance, where church beliefs influenced the laws and social norms, further solidified Puritanism as the dominant religion in the region.

This religious context not only shaped the colony's culture and politics but also led to tensions with other groups who practiced different faiths, leading to events such as the Salem witch trials and conflicts with Indigenous peoples.