9. Laws were enacted to protect the status of classes in New England
The Puritans in New England, besides being Bible-conscious, were very much aware of and protective of social classes. The New World presented a serious challenge to ensuring everyone remained in their place. There was too much available land, and too many opportunities to advance. Laws were enacted by community elders to ensure individuals did not climb too quickly up the social ladder. They were called sumptuary laws. As with most of the laws advanced in Puritan New England, the sumptuary laws were based on biblical constraints, at least as they were interpreted by the church elders, who were also the community leaders.
The sumptuary laws established social castes of superiors and inferiors. Church elders and civic leaders were superiors, the ruled were inferiors. It was an interpretation of the commandment “Honor thy mother and thy father”. The commandment rendered children inferior to their parents, duty-bound to follow their instructions. It also rendered the parent duty-bound to both protect and properly instruct their children. The sumptuary laws extended those mutual obligations to the community. The leaders were to be offered respect and obedience to the point of reverence. In return, their inferiors were to receive proper guidance, and when necessary disciplining.