Background  The Puritans were an English Protestant group that gained popularity in England around They believed in separating from the corrupt Church of England and felt the Church of England had to be reformed.  Beginning in the early 1630's, Puritans began to migrate from England to New England America. There they could avoid religious persecution and their culture would be pivotal in the culture of modern America today.

Beliefs  Based on similar Protestant Christianity beliefs and Calvinism from John Calvin  Predestination- A doctrine based on the idea that God is all-powerful and all-knowing; therefore, the fate of each individual soul is known to God at birth and nothing an individual can do or say could change their ultimate fate.  Conversion- process where God would reveal to the individual his grace, and the person would know he was saved.  Only “the elect”, or those who underwent the conversion process were allowed to serve as church members. Ministers would screen individuals claiming to have experienced conversion.  Sanctification- the holy behavior that supposedly resulted when an individual had been saved.

God’s Work The Puritan “Social Order”  Church attendance was mandatory. Those that missed church regularly were subject to a fine.  Adulterers might have been forced to wear a scarlet "A" if they were lucky, otherwise it was punished with hanging.  Puritans felt no remorse about administering punishment. They believed in Old Testament methods, and that God’s punishment would be far worse than any physical abuse.  Puritan law was extremely strict; men and women were severely punished for a variety of crimes. Even a child could be put to death for cursing his parents.  Celebrations and festivals were common where people sang and told stories. Children were allowed to play games with their parents' permission.  Wine and beer drinking were common place.  Literacy important- Massachusetts law required a tax-supported school for every community that could boast 50 or more families. Puritans wanted their children to be able to read the Bible, of course.

Position of WomenPosition of Women  “A Man’s World”-Women did not participate in town meetings and were excluded from decision making in the church. Puritan ministers furthered male supremacy in their writings and sermons. They preached that the soul had two parts, the immortal masculine half, and the mortal feminine half.  Names of women found in census reports of Massachusetts Bay included Patience, Silence, Fear, Prudence, Comfort, Hopestill, and Be Fruitful.

Puritan Puritan Thomas Cartwright argues for a purified English Religion 1590 Thomas Cartwright and others arrested for trying to reform the church 1608 Puritan separatists from town of Scrooby migrate to Netherlands to avoid persecution 1620 Scrooby separatists return to England and then sail for Virginia on the Mayflower ; these Pilgrims settle outside Virginia’s boundaries 1629 Increasing pressure put on Puritans in England. New England Company reorganized as Massachusetts Bay Company 1630 The Arbella and sister ships sail for Massachusetts; Governor John Winthrop makes Boston seat of colony 1633 William Laud becomes Archbishop of Canterbury, fueling Great Migration of Puritans to New England 1635 Roger Williams banished from Bay Colony, founds Rhode Island Providence the following year 1636 Harvard College founded. Puritans from Massachusetts found Hartford, Connecti cut Native Americans and Puritans battle in Pequot War. New Haven colony founded Anne Hutchinson banished Puritan Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of England 1660 American Puritan hopes for reform permanently dashed when Catholic Charles II crowned king of England; persecution of English Puritans resumed; many emigrate or return to New England 1675 Wampanoags and Puritans battle in King Philip’s War 1692 Witchcraft trials at Salem Village

Cromwell Later Puritanism of 1700’s

Dress  Puritans did not all dress in black, in fact black was reserved for the most formal occasions, for elders, and those of higher ranks.  They had a basic uniform and most of their dress consisted of conservative dark colors.  Similar to English clothing at the time  Married women covered their hair with a linen cap, and sometimes covered this with a tall black hat.  Women preferred silk lace but most clothing was made from linen and wool.

The First UniversityThe First University  In 1636, Harvard College was instituted for the purpose of training Puritan ministers.

Citations  Campbell, Donna M. "Puritanism in New England." Literary Movements. Dept. of English, Washington State University. 21 Mar Web. 07 Mar  Independence Hall Association,. "The New England Colonies." U.S. History 2008: n. pag. Web. 7 Mar  University of Houston,. "Colonization." Digital History 07 Mar 2011: n. pag. Web. 7 Mar  Finley, Gavin, Dir. Cromwell - Trailer. Dir. Ken Hughes." Irving Allen Productions: 1970, Film..