How did Calvinism help spread the idea of self-government?
The Calvinists went in for a very simple structure when it came to church organization. They were basically congregational, with each individual church pretty much acting independently of the others, yet still preaching the same doctrine and tenets. There was, essentially, no hierarchy such as bishops or cardinals. The ministers of the individual churches, usually with the help of men appointed as elders and/or deacons, really were the top echelon and made the decisions affecting the congregation as a whole. As you can see, self-government in matters of religion and church affairs was a good breeding ground for new ideas concerning civil government as well. Many settlers in colonial America, particularly in New England and in the so-called ‘backwoods’ were adherents of religious beliefs that were strongly influenced by Calvinism. Used to self-government in ecclesiastical applications, it wasn’t too farfetched to think of themselves as equal to the task of governing themselves. It’s an
