1. The Puritans

2. © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.
MAP 3.3 European Colonies of the Atlantic Coast, 1607–39 Virginia, on Chesapeake Bay, was the first English colony in North America, but by the mid-seventeenth century, Virginia was joined by settlements of Scandinavians on the Delaware River and Dutch on the Hudson River, as well as English religious dissenters in New England. The territories indicated here reflect the vague boundaries of the early colonies.
© 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.

3. What is Puritanism? The fear that someone, somewhere might be happy”
-H.L. Mencken
The term "puritan" was used in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (originally as an epithet of abuse) to refer to those Protestants who sought to institute further reforms of the Anglican Church, and emphasized the central importance of preaching, and committed themselves to the values of a "godly" life

4. THE REFORMATION
Began in 1517 with the criticisms of Martin Luther, specifically indulgences
Various groups of former Catholics would break away from the Church
Individualism

5. REFORMATION IN ENGLAND
Reformation at first seemed to pass England by
Situation changed during the reign of Henry VIII
Pulled England out of Catholic Church when pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn
Declared himself head of an independent Church of England and confiscated all property of Catholic Church

7. John Milton, Puritan poet
PURITANS
Small but influential group became increasingly critical of the strong Catholic flavor within the Church of England
Began towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII
Known as “puritans”
Because they wanted to “purify” the Church of England of all vestiges of Catholicism
John Milton, Puritan poet

8. "Some I have chosen of peculiar grace Elect above the rest; so is my will: The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes Th' incensed Deitie while offerd grace Invites; for I will cleer thir senses dark, What may suffice, and soft'n stonie hearts To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.” JOHN MILTON from Areopagitica

9. JOHN CALVIN
French-born Protestant leader who made his headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
His doctrine, Calvinism, was a harsh, stern, and intolerant brand of Protestantism

10. CALVINISM Predestination
Calvin’s God was stern, angry, and unforgiving
Saw man has hopelessly corrupt and sinful
Nothing could appease him and nothing could help man achieve salvation

11. PREDESTINATION
Does God decide who is saved?

12. SALVATION AND BEHAVIOR
people should prepare themselves for this notification by behaving in such a way as to demonstrate that they are worthy of this divine favor
Read the Bible, attend church, work hard, exercise severe self-discipline

13. CONGREGATIONALISTS Puritans were English Calvinists
Belonged to the Church but believed it was impure and purged of all surviving Catholic customs
Most Puritans were also Congregationalists
Wanted to get rid of centralized structure of the Church of England
Make each congregation independent
Only wanted people who had been marked for salvation and lived accordingly to be full, voting congregation members
The “godly”
Congregationalist Church

14. CHARLES I AND PURITANISM
During the reigns of James I and especially Charles I, sporadic persecution of leaders changed to a policy of persecution and harassment of all Puritans
Because Charles I was sympathetic to Catholicism and even wanted to make Church of England more, not less, Catholic

15. THE PILGRIMS Separatists who had left Church of England
Persecuted heavily in England so they moved to the Netherlands in 1609
Forced to leave Netherlands in 1619 when war looked likely with England
Decided at that point to go to North America

17. These men are full of the spirit," he said; "these are precise fellows, these are holy saints, these think themselves God's fellows, these think themselves better than other men."
But they would drive men to despair, and bring them out of belief with the fear of dam nation."

18. THE MAYFLOWER
Received financing from friendly English Puritans and bought one ship
the Mayflower.
101 passengers
Landed at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620

19. A LITTLE PROTO-DEMOCRACY
Because the area where they landed was outside jurisdiction of Virginia, colonists signed a contract and agreed to be governed by majority rule until a permanent colonial government could be established
The Mayflower Compact
Elected William Bradford to serve as their first governor

20. FIRST WINTER Named area where they landed Plymouth
Arrived weakened by poor food and close confinement just as harsh winter hit
50% died during first winter from starvation, exposure, and, perhaps, suicide
All probably would have died if it had not been for the help provided by Squanto
Lonely tribeless Indian
Acted as interpreter and go-between with local Indians

21. PILGRIM LEGACY
Pilgrims did manage to establish a viable little colony at Plymouth
Supported by farming, fishing, and fur trading

22. Life in general could be grim to the Puritans and they seldom lost complete sight of the pain, unhappiness and harsh circumstances of the world. Yet they believed that lives on earth should have, as the minister Samuel Willard wrote, "sometimes their exstasies."

23. Passion
“Let thy lustful body be everlasting fuel for the unquenchable fire ; let thy lascivious soul be eternal food for the never-dying worm. Hell from beneath is moved to meet thee. "
-Samuel Danforth

24. GREAT MIGRATION
Mainstream Puritans who settle Massachusetts Bay Colony north of Plymouth during late 1620s and 1630s
Goal was to set up “city upon a hill” to serve as model that would show English how their “sinful lande” could be transformed and purified
Over 20,000 moderate Congregationalists who fled persecution in England under Charles I

25. MASSACHUSETTS BAY COMPANY
In 1628, well-off Puritans bought shares in New England Company
Had authorization to settle and govern area known as Massachusetts Bay, north of Plymouth
Company reorganized in 1629 into Massachusetts Bay Company
Puritan shareholders gained majority control of company
Thereby gained power to govern themselves in Massachusetts Bay
Seal of Massachusetts Bay Company

26. PURITAN SETTLEMENT
Shareholders elected John Winthrop as their first governor
Winthrop and 1000 other Puritans landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1630
Within a year they had founded settlements at Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Watertown, Cambridge, and Charlestown
All parts of metropolitan Boston today
Within ten years, 20,000 more Puritans would come over, making Massachusetts Bay the largest English colony in North America
John Winthrop

27. RELIGION AND POLITICS Church became foundation of colony
Everyone require to attend church services
Full church membership limited to “saints”
People who had passed test and proven they were marked for salvation
Only full church members could participate in politics

28. THE GENERAL COURT
Vote granted only to male, adult, full church members
Called “freemen”
Originally, all freemen met together four times a year in the “General Court: to make laws
In between meetings, Winthrop and 18 elected assistants managed the colony
General Court became too large and cumbersome in time and was transformed into a representative assembly
Two representatives elected from each settlement
Executive branch made up of governor, a deputy, and council of assistants—all elected by freemen in the colony at large

29. THE PURITAN REPUBLIC Puritan republic had problems in early years
Anne Hutchinson
Puritan republic had problems in early years
Anne Hutchinson
Roger Williams
But the colony hung together because colonists agreed on basic issues
Wanted congregational churches
Wanted government that enforced Ten Commandments and supported their “true religion”
But, contrary to legend, they never allowed clergymen to hold public office
Roger Williams

30. ECONOMY
Colony developed thriving economy based on selling supplies to new settlers
English Civil War cut off flow of immigrants to colony and plunged it into a depression
As a way out, colonists found they could sell fish, grain, and timber to Spain, Portugal, and Caribbean islands
Created solid and diversified economic foundation based on international trade, shipbuilding, and shipping

31. GROWTH OF NEW ENGLAND
Population grew rapidly after 1650, reaching 100,000 by the 1690s
Began to spill over into neighboring areas
Connecticut (founded by Thomas Hooker)
Rhode Island (founded by Roger Williams)
Southern New Hampshire
All these new colonies retained the Massachusetts form of government and had diversified economies based on international trade

32. REASONS FOR POPULATION GROWTH
Population growth helped by lower death rate than in Virginia
Caused by brisk climate
Safe and abundant drinking water
Strength of family units and evenly balanced gender ration
More stable family life and less carousing and drinking
Puritan values

33. CONCLUSION
Population growth and economic development eventually undermined the Puritan principles upon which Massachusetts Bay had been founded
Evolved into a secular and materialistic state
But some of its traditions would live on to have a massive impact on the future of this new land
Most importantly, the tradition of self-government