1. Puritanism
Your first “ism”!

2. American Puritans Purify Church of England (hence, the name)
Create Puritan, Christian Utopia
Came to America from England for religious freedom due to persecution
Ironically, believed the Church of England was not strict enough

3. Basic Beliefs & Values
Depravity: all born with original sin due to Adam & Eve’s fall (infant damnation)
Sin is in our nature & we will most likely succumb to it
Unconditional Election
God “saves” only His chosen, which are few: predestined
Sounds dire, but it actually gave purpose: all part of God’s cosmic plan
Ability to be good/pure proved one was likely part of the “elect”

4. Beliefs/Values, Cont. Limited Atonement
Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone
god & the devil/demons in an “invisible world”
Extremely superstitious: presence of demons
obedience versus “fondness”
No physical affection for children before two, to “break their will”
Obedience is godliness
“Better whipped than damned,” Cotton Mather
No toys/games because they create idleness
“Idle hands are the devil’s plaything…”

5. Patriarchy
What is it?
Extreme biblical patriarchal beliefs fueled witch hunts
Women totally subservient to men
By their nature (Eve), more likely to do the devil’s work
Lustful
All land, property, or wealth of any kind to man upon marriage
Many “witches” were widows or unmarried landowning women: accusation = good way to get land

6. A journal entry of John Winthrop about a woman who fell ill after reading: "For if she had attended her household affairs, and such things as belong to women, and not gone out of her way and calling to meddle in such things as are proper for men, whose minds are stronger, etc., she’d have kept her wits, and might have improved them usefully and honorably in the place God had set her " (Queen et al 197).

7. In a Nutshell…
Can fight sinful nature, but will likely “backslide” into temptation
Satan loves the virtuous the most!
Pleasure = sin, so seek it moderately
This applies to literature as well…
State of perpetual fear, shame, and oppression = recipe for disaster…

8. Puritan Writing PURPOSE: To glorify God THEREFORE… STYLE:
To make a mysterious God more relevant to the universe: He is so great and separate from humans, that we must try to understand his “great mystery.”
To glorify God
THEREFORE…
Sermons, lectures, essays
Little to no fiction
No reading for “fun”
STYLE:
Protestant: no flowery language, no “ornateness” (too sinful…)

9. Downfall
THEOCRACY: Church ruled all, even capital punishment for spiritual misdeeds
Public persecution & trials
Religious leaders also political and official leaders (law enforcement…)
Inflexible: fled persecution only to persecute with fervor themselves
Could never be questioned because of theocratic nature
Scientific growth
Urbanization & immigration: growing American diversity

10. A few fun facts… Unwanted/unmarried pregnancy
“Bundling”
From 10% to 40%!
Even the Puritans twerked!
Yes, they drank—there wasn’t much else!
Consider the era…