ИСТИНА

The presentation is devoted to ideological controversies and political issues in the colonial society of Massachusetts at the first quarter of the 18th century. There is no denying that political and ideological discussions always mirror the most crucial issues and events, such as political, economic or religious crisis, war, epidemic, etc. In this respect I believe that a comprehensive analysis of ideological controversies would give a chance to trace the development and evolution of American political and religious thought. Among other things, the study of ideological controversies of that particular period gives a chance to examine the origins of the first politically-oriented groups named by T. Breen as “the Court” and “the Country”. The reasons and nature of political debates also deserve the deepest attention. In this respect it is important to analyze the level of English influence as well as the role of the puritan election sermons and early colonial press in the development of New England political and religious thought.