PURITANISM
Puritanism Background Puritanism & England Beliefs of the Puritans Puritanism & the English Colonies Puritanism in America Legacy of Puritanism
Puritanism- Background 1517 Protestant Reformation Protestors who wished to reform the Catholic Church Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis 1532 Henry VIII, King of England creates the Anglican Church (Church of England) Protestantism - in name only King same as Pope with appointed cardinals Anglican Church was Catholicism practice & rituals “Catholic church in disguise”
Puritanism- and England Want to “purify” England subtle, prejudice against those out of the Anglican church (e.g. no offices can be held) Predestination Priesthood of the individual
Puritanism- Beliefs 1st covenant - individual & God Three Way Covenant 1st covenant - individual & God 2nd covenant -individual & congregation 3rd covenant - congregation & state attempts to make reform through civil laws government enforced beliefs Beliefs of the Puritans Three Way Covenant 1st covenant - individual & God (spiritual relationship) Are you sure of your predestination? 2nd covenant - individual & congregation man so wicked he needs help of the congregation (communal spirituality) stocks & pillars agrees to abide by rules (e.g. no dancing)
Puritanism- And the English Colonies Puritans CHOSE to leave England not persecution couldn't fit in the 3rd covenant in England needed a place to go where they could find government support
Puritanism- In the English Colonies New World to become a Puritan Commonwealth Receive charter to go to the New World “city on a hill”- a beacon light for others Goal- Return to England purify America, then return to England to save her
Puritanism- In America 1620 New Plymouth Pilgrims left for America Mayflower ship with 101 people (Bradford) heading for Jamestown Virginia off course or chose own location ended in Cape Cod near Boston 2 1/2 months - arriving in November (cold) Indians greeted them in English helped them through winter (Squanto or English fishermen 1580-90's)
Puritanism- In America 1620 New Plymouth Mayflower Compact 1620 potential for democratic ideas beginning of democracy "single civil body politic" majority rule - voluntary helps set up some form of government at later date 1st representative government in New World - social contract theory
Puritanism- In America 1629 Massachusetts Bay Company John Winthrop - Puritan received charter stock holders - investors in colonies purchasers of charters (or stock holders) charters stayed in England so when goods come back on ship, the stock holders taxed goods) charter came over with Massachusetts Bay Co. 1630 !
Puritanism- In America 1629 Massachusetts Bay Company 17 ships 1000 people settle where Boston is is today prepared - no hardship Great Migration of 1630 - 1640's 20,000 Puritans to Massachusetts John Winthrop/Cotton Mather legislature kept control of the church/state
Puritanism- Legacy of Puritanism Passed values to future generations The Protestant Work Ethic 1. Prudence 2. Thrift 3. Discipline 4. Hard work THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC -----> CAPITALISM Two ideas go hand in hand
Puritanism- Legacy Are we losing the Legacy of the Puritans? Today we are losing values of hard work, thrift & discipline? consumerism/credit cards "you are what you own"
Puritanism- Discussion Was our country really founded on freedom of religion? Was the goal of the Puritans religious freedom for all? What was the intent of the English in resettling the religious dissonant? Examples of religious intolerance Anne Hutchinson ousted because of prayer meetings in her house Roger Williams formed Rhode Island - didn't agree with Mass Bay Co. Puritans & left.
Puritanism- Summary Summary - Pulling It Together Puritanism in America introduced concepts of Representative Governance Church & State (Theocracy) Individual & God Prosperity & Godliness Strong Work Ethic
Background and Modern Implications The Salem Witch Trials Background and Modern Implications
Synopsis of the Trials June through September of 1692 nineteen men and women, all having been convicted of witchcraft, were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem Village, for hanging. Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges.
Synopsis of the Trials Hundreds of others faced accusations of witchcraft. Dozens languished in jail for months without trials. Then, almost as soon as it had begun, the hysteria that swept through Puritan Massachusetts ended.
Causes of the Witch Hysteria Governmental Instability This incident displayed the everyday tensions that existed in the colonies at the time and reflected a growing fear of one’s neighbors as the trials built to a fever pitch The provincial government was in transition because of the removal of Sir Edmund Andros, (who was appointed by the king to rule over the newly-created Dominion of New England) due to discontent with his methods and beliefs, The government responded too slowly to prevent the executions of twenty due to this hysteria
Causes of the Witch Hysteria Many other factors contributed to this hysteria: Generational strife Tensions between agricultural Salem Village and commercial Salem Town Possibly an outbreak of food poisoning that may have caused hallucinations The Salem Witch trials were indicative of the times, which was marked by war, economic and political disruption, and erosion of the society’s utopian vision