Unification of the New World Colonies.
As the seventeenth century dawned, much of the New World was being intensely transformed. Several new colonists, of all ethnicities and backgrounds, were immigrating to this newfound land. Because of the great diversity that was being brought in, it seemed impossible for all the colonies to become as one. The religions of the British North American colonists created a vast sense of harmony among the colonists. William Penn contributed greatly to the unification of the colonies. Also, the Half Way Covenant and what was known as the Great Awakening brought together several different people through religion. .
To begin with, William Penn was a very influential man in bringing together several groups of people. He received a large grant of money from the king through inheritance, and left for America to establish an asylum for the Quakers in 1681. Penn bought land from the Indians (later named Pennsylvania), instead of just taking over, and even employed them as baby-sitters. All residents were guaranteed freedom of worship, and no restrictions were placed on immigration. Pennsylvania attracted a wide variety of ethnic groups with their liberal features. They allowed people into their colony who were religiously rejected by the neighboring colonies. Soon, their diverse population and great wealth was only surpassed by two colonies, Virginia and Massachusetts. The Quakers provided such a pleasant haven for people of all types, that Pennsylvania was a colony that contributed immensely in the unification of many colonists. .
In the middle of the seventeenth century, the fast-growing populations of New England settlements were driving people away from the Puritan church. However, in 1662, many troubled ministers created the Half-Way Covenant. This was a new agreement between the church and its members to allow nonmembers to have partial membership rights in the church.
