1. Thomas Morton, Roger Williams, and Jonathan Edwards
Colonial New England
Thomas Morton, Roger Williams, and Jonathan Edwards

2. The Maypole of Merry Mount
Thomas Morton
The Maypole of Merry Mount

3. Thomas Morton Lawyer Native American trader Extremely well-educated
Better educated than most Puritans
Disagreed with the Puritan concept of “fun”
Angered Puritan leaders
by trading guns to Native Americans
by having May Day dances

4. Puritan View of the Maypole
A Pagan symbol
A sign of idol worship or Devil worship

5. Another View of the Maypole

6. The Maypole A phallic symbol Symbol of May Day or Beltane
Celtic celebration
Celebration of Queen of the May
Roots in Roman and Greek society
Morton aware of these roots

7. Intolerance
William Bradford (left) recorded numerous examples of the Pilgrim’s intolerance towards others. When Thomas Morton sailed to New England in 1624, he used liquor to entice the Algonquin Indians to trade for furs:
“They ... set up a May-pole,” [Bradford wrote] “drinking and dancing about it many days together, inviting the Indian women [to be] their consorts, dancing and frisking together, (like so many fairies, or furies rather,) and worse practices.”
Miles Standish, the Pilgrim military commander, led an armed party to seize Morton and send him back to England. They destroyed Morton’s makeshift camp and his Maypole.

8. The Puritans saw Morton as the embodiment of the Devil.

9. Puritans and Sex
To the Puritans, sex was for procreation, not recreation
The Maypole’s symbolism of sexual pleasure was abhorrent to them
However, they did not fully understand the symbolism, only knowing that, to them, it was “evil.”
Morton mocked their ignorance, using his superior education.

10. Governor of Rhode Island 1654-8
Roger Williams
Governor of
Rhode Island
1654-8

11. No Democracy No early colony democratic
Puritans banned Roger Williams from the Massachusetts Bay
interpretations of the Bible disagreed with the prevailing view
criticized lack of separation of church and state
disapproved of taking lands away from Indians

12. Rhode Island Williams ordered back to England Secretly slipped away
Established Rhode Island
greater religious toleration
friendlier relations with the Indians.
Rhode Island first colony to allow freedom of religion.

13. And the Great Awakening
Jonathan Edwards
And the Great Awakening

14. The Great Awakening
Religious revival that spread throughout the colonies in late 1700s
Variation of Puritan belief of salvation of the elect
Provided salvation to all who would believe and obey
Title misleading: not one continuous revival
One cannot be awakened unless one has been asleep

15. Background Scientific discoveries weakening believers’ faith
Newton’s Principia Mathematica, a cornerstone of the emerging rationalism, viewed as a threat to religious piety and the inerrancy of the Bible
compare to Origin of the Species in 1800s
Second and third generation Puritans more morally lax

16. Moral Laxity
Youth of the second and third generations given to mirth and frivolity
spend the greater part of the night in coed parties
Increase in children conceived out of wedlock

17. Some Results of Great Awakening
Unified colonists in a common evangelical view of life
Dissent and dissenters greater respect
Increased emphasis on education
Greater sense of responsibility for slaves and Native Americans

18. Jonathan Edwards Born October 5, 1703, East Windsor, Conn.
Fifth of eleven children to the Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards
Puritan evangelical household
father Congregationalist minister
grandfather influential minister and author
Education
study of the Bible and Christian theology
classics and ancient languages
His childhood education immersed him not only in the study of the Bible and Christian theology but also in classics and ancient languages.

19. Edwards the Preacher
In 1734, preached a series of sermons emphasizing God’s all-powerful offer of grace
Brought about a number of conversions in the Northampton congregation.
Was asked to prepare an authoritative account of the “Awakening.”

20. Edwards’ Convictions
Must do more than merely comprehend religious ideas
Must be moved by these ideas
Must know them experientially
However, a person can do nothing to earn salvation
Only God’s grace could save

21. Reality versus Perception
Edwards preached pure Calvinism: “You can’t control Salvation.”
People heard: “If one tries, God will aid the Salvation.”
Edwards referenced God’s power to save whomever He pleases (predestination).
Puritan listeners heard this as a chance that they could achieve salvation through acts or beliefs.

22. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Preached in July, 1741
Represents, in many persons’ minds the bleak, cruel, and hell-bent outlook of Edwards and his Puritan predecessors
“Sinners” aimed at a particularly hard-hearted congregation
A classic statement of Puritans’ literal vision of Hell and of belief in humanity’s utter dependence upon God

23. Form and Format of Sermon
Repetition of main ideas, with slight variations, over and over, in poundingly repetitive rhythms, drilling into his audience the precariousness of their situation
bow of God’s wrath is bent
arrow made ready on the string
justice bends the arrow at your heart
and strains the bow

24. Edwards as Speaker Sinners not a normal speech for Edwards
He usually appealed to logic and reason
Spoke in a monotone
Stared at the bell rope as he spoke
Hysterical audience

25. Reactions to Sermons Many religious conversions
Exaggerated behavior accompanied conversions
Barking, shouting, and running

26. Effects of Edwards Meetinghouse filled
Named “backsliders” from the pulpit
Tried to restore power of church
Required public confessions of salvation
Angered influential townspeople
Dismissed from pulpit