THE PURITANS

PURITANS Puritanism began in the 16 th and 17 th century as a reform movement against the Church of England. The Puritans followed the teachings of ________ ___________, a French Protestant theologian. The aim of the early Puritans was to _____________________________________________ ____________________________________________, not to leave it, but their ideas were too strict and they were forced to practice their beliefs in secret.

Puritans and Massachusetts The Massachusetts Colony was very different from the other colonies in that it was a _______________. ______________ means that the government that ruled the colony was very religious. Since the Puritans escaped their homeland so that they could practice their own religion, they wanted to preserve their religious principles in their new home.

PERSECUTION AND EMIGRATION The Puritans were unsuccessful in their attempt to impose their purifying ideas on the established Church. Persecution followed and a group arranged to journey to the wilds of America on The Mayflower. In their new society, the ______________ had great political influence, although a group of men of property in the community exercised a measure of control over church affairs.

Artist’s conception of Puritans’ journey to America

Puritans landing in the New World

Puritans in New England

BASIC PURITAN BELIEFS _____________________________________. _____________________________________. No amount of good behavior or good works can alter God’s plan. ______________________________________ ______________________________________. God’s grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. But, it is only given to “the chosen.”

THE PURITAN WAY The Puritan Church was an ______________ building. There was no crucifix. There were no statues, music, or stained glass windows. The ______________ read a passage from the Bible and then delivered a lesson. Men sat on one side on hard benches. Women sat on the other. There was no labor on the __________________ (Saturdays): no cooking, cleaning, farming, etc. The day was spent in quiet reflection after the service.

Puritan Oligarchy Puritanism in America was an ______________. An oligarchy is a form of government ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________. The Puritans were governed by a group consisting of the minister and select group of men of property.

Puritan Meeting House

Puritans at home.

Education of children All children were required to attend school. Puritan children had to learn to ______________________________________ ______________________________________. Children and adults read the Bible or religious texts. ______________________________________. Drama and secular fiction was considered to be inspired by the Devil.

The Hornbook A Puritan child holding a Hornbook. A Hornbook was a wooden paddle with a narrow handle. Handwritten lessons on parchment were tacked onto the wood each day.

Page of a Hornbook A – In Adam’s Fall, We sinned all.

A Puritan Family

The Puritans were a strict society. Sins both social and religious were punished. Stocks – A man convicted of public drunkenness would have his head shaved and hands placed in a locked stockade for a day. The community would be invited to pelt the guilty with food. A man or woman would be forced to wear a handwritten sign indicating their crime. Branding on the cheek, forehead or hand would reveal a more serious crime such as horse thief or adulterer.

Criminals in stockades

Punishments continued Women only could be dunked into the water on a stool – crime – gossip. Whipping was a common punishment. Various crimes had a certain number of lashes. Public shaming – the criminal is pulled by a rope through town while everyone points fingers, throws small objects and laughs.

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter, reveals another method of shaming.

Puritan Influence The United States has long had a decency code for films although it has been relaxed a great deal. (PG-13, R, NC 17) The American Library Association releases a list of challenged or banned books each year. Titles have included all of the Harry Potter books, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Color Purple.