Image: Embarkation of the Pilgrims, Robert W. Weir, U. S. Capitol Building, 1837

Massachusetts Coast (modern)

Puritanism – Roots Believe Henry and successors haven’t gone far enough in wiping out Catholic influence in England / Church of England Purify Church of England – get back to basics of what they think Christianity is about, including: Follow only the Christian Bible Destroy influence of educated priesthood—individual path to God without intercession of priest (literacy) Ban Catholic sacraments / rituals Ban altars, images, priesthood, convents, etc. Ban “pagan” holidays like Christmas, Easter Image: St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Northumberland

Public Notice of Christmas Ban England, 1666

1 st Congregational Church Old Lyme, CT

Covenant System Organization of New England’s Calvinist Puritan society based on system of interlocking COVENANTS Covenant: Binding agreement made by mutual consent; legal agreement Image: Geneva Bible, 1560

William Bradford, Separatist Puritans (Pilgrims) to Plymouth, 1620 Group persecuted in England Most radical, extreme egalitarian views Images: William Bradford; contemporary reconstruction of Plymouth Plantation homes

John Winthrop, Member of English landed gentry; attorney 1629 joins other investors to organize trading company— Massachusetts Bay Company (non-separatists) Unlike most other colonial enterprises, this one not just about making profit Leads “Great Migration” to New England ( ) Author of “A Model of Christian Charity” Image: John Winthrop

Puritan (Protestant) Work Ethic?

Rhode Island “The Sewer” Rhode Island “The Sewer”

Rhode Island Anne Hutchinson/Roger Williams – “Heretics???”

New England Families Intergenerational continuity in large family settings contributed to stable life Clean water and cool temps = healthier lives 1 st generations lived about 70 years. New Englanders came as families. Populations grows from reproduction Average woman could expect 10 pregnancies

New England Women Unlike southern women, NE women gave up property rights when they married. Women could not vote and were considered weaker than men Many bonded over midwifery Puritan laws sought to defend marriage and divorce was rare, unless abandonment or adultery

Half-Way Covenant As religious zeal gave way, a new sermon became heard, the “Jeremiad” 1662, new formula for church membership, the Half-Way Covenant Admit to baptism, the unconverted children of existing members Eventually all were included to keep the numbers high to the “Faith” Many felt religious purity was being diluted for wider participation

Salem Witch Trials 1692, legal lynching of 20 individuals, 19 hanged, one pressed to death (yuck), two dogs hung (huh??) Most accused came from growing business community, accusers from subsistence farming. WHY??? Ended in 1693, when governor’s wife was accused 20 years later accusations were annulled and reparations made to their heirs

New York

Old Netherlanders at New Netherlands 1600s  Golden Age of Dutch history.  Major commercial and naval power.  Challenging England on the seas.  3 major Anglo-Dutch Wars  Major colonial power [mainly in the East Indies].

Henry Hudson’s Voyages

New Netherlands New Netherlands  founded in the Hudson River area ( )  Established by Dutch West India Company for quick-profit fur trade.  Company wouldn’t pay much attention to the colony.  Manhattan [New Amsterdam]  Purchased by Company for pennies per (22,000) acre.

Company town run in interests of the stockholders. No interest in religious toleration, free speech, or democracy. Governors appointed by the Company were autocratic. Religious dissenters against Dutch Reformed Church [including Quakers] were persecuted. Local assembly with limited power to make laws established after repeated protests by colonists. New Amsterdam Harbor, 1639

New Amsterdam, 1660 Characteristics of New Amsterdam:  Aristocratic  patroonships [feudal estates granted to promoters who would settle 50 people on them].  Cosmopolitan  diverse population with many different languages.

New York Manors & Land Grants Patroonships

New Netherlands & New Sweden

Swedes in New Netherlands Mid-1600s  Sweden in Golden Age settled small, under-funded colony [called “New Sweden”] near New Netherland  Dutch under director-general Peter Stuyvesant attack New Sweden.  Main fort fell after bloodless siege.  New Sweden absorbed into New Netherland.

New Netherlands Becomes a British Royal Colony Charles II granted New Netherland’s land to his brother, the Duke of York, [before he controlled the area!] 1664  English soldiers arrived.  Dutch had little ammunition and poor defenses.  Stuyvesant forced to surrender without firing a shot. Renamed “New York”  England gained strategic harbor between her northern & southern colonies.  England now controlled the Atlantic coast!

Duke of York’s Original Charter

New Amsterdam, 1664

Dutch Residue in New York Early 20 c Dutch Revival Building in NYC. New York City seal. Names  Harlem, Brooklyn Architecture  gambrel roof Customs  Easter eggs, Santa Claus, waffles, bowling, sleighing, skating, kolf [golf].