Hello and welcome to a history of the United States.

Episode 52, Law and Order, Rhode Island.

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In our last episode, we looked at religious developments in Rhode Island during the mid-17th century.

We covered the two religious trends in the colony, which led the colonists to become Quakers and Baptists.

Today, I want to turn towards the secular realm and deal with things which were a

bit more materialistic. While the Rhode Islanders were ultrapuritans, they were not religious

recluses looking to escape from the evils of the world. In fact, they viewed it as

almost the opposite. Seventeenth century Americans had a fear of the untamed nature of their new home,

and had a deep fear that the precious gift of civilization that Europe and Europe alone had developed could be lost.

They had manners, morality and culture. The Indians had none.

Everything must be done to protect their refinement.

They had priorities, which were practical, at least.

Their first priority was to secure clean water and a food supply, for example, rather than the finer

things in life. With their various crops and access to the sea, they were able to have a society which was primarily

agricultural, but there were a few specialised professions. Each town needed a sawmill, for example.

This was a degree of simple self-sufficiency, but it wasn't the ultimate level of civility that the Rhode Islanders had in mind.

They were a very religious people. Bibles were necessary. Other books too.

Glass windows, iron tools, spices, gin, ammunition. All these were needed, but couldn't be acquired locally.

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