The Puritans -America's First Social Conservatives

I haven't read a whole lot about them, but I did read American Jezebel about Anne Hutchinson and I have to say that it was an important lesson.

Correct me if I am wrong, but...

The Puritans wanted to escape religious persecution so they leave England to set up their "utopia" of religious freedom..

However, big caveat...you have to worship their way to live amongst them. If you don't tow the line, you will be an outcast. If you incur the jealous wrath of your neighbors you risk becoming an outcast as well so you have to really work hard to tow the line.

So sects like those of Anne Hutchinson arise and they start to break off from the main group, some by force others by free will.

Eventually the Puritans get so goofy that they literally start burning people for witchcraft and leave a black mark on their religion/culture.

Yet the area of extreme religous conservatism in the early part of US history is now considered a "liberal" breeding ground.

Perhaps this is a lesson to conservatives, that pushing and pushing people to conform to your values may result in some power, but that eventually people will just get sick of it and break free.