Puritans and New England Puritans (Congregationalists) John Calvin Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion Predestination Calvinism in England in 1530s Wanted to purify the Church of England of Catholicism Against separation of church and state Feared England becoming too secular Puritan Ideas Puritan Work Ethic Convert the unbelieving Very discouraged at slow pace of conversions and Reformation Had special covenant with God Predestination Elect (Visible Saints): only ones worthy of church membership Visual conversion All people should be literate 1
Persecution of Puritans Puritans challenged King James I (1603-1625) James would not allow Puritans to defy him as spiritual leader--would inspire others to defy him as political leaer James responded by harassing them, closing churches, etc. Economic depression of late 16th century was devastating to Puritans (wool industry) Separatists Predecessors to Puritans (in colonization) Wanted to separate, not purify the church Could not stand going to church with corrupted Anglican church members Fled persecution in England 1608: Holland (lived for 12 years) Feared Dutchification of children Wanted religious freedom and still be Englishmen 1620: Plymouth Bay Did not have charter (not recognized by England and did not have the rights of an Englishmen) William Bradford (and Myles Standish) Mayflower Compact: first written government document in colonies Puritans Leave England 1629: Charles I dismissed parliament and increased Puritan persecution 1629: Group of Puritans obtained charter Formed Massachusetts Bay Co. Intended to be religious colony Left in 1630 with over 1,000 people 2
A City Upon a Hill Massachusetts Bay Stressed community over individual Protestant Work Ethic Strong discipline Transgressors severely punished Great Migration : 70,000 Puritans (and others) came in 1630s Expanded into Connecticut and Rhode Island Many settled in W. Indies Economics of Massachusetts Bay Agriculture, fishing, timber, furs Villages Close together Communal Small farms Singles could not live alone Stressed education Town meeting form of government Education Towns of more than 50 families were required to provide education Harvard College (1636) First tax supported public schools (1642) First printing press in New World Half of adults were literate 3
The New England Primer (1683) Government Free male church (Congregational) members could vote 40% of population had right to vote All had freedom of speech (town hall mtgs) Everyone paid taxes Governor and his aides was elected annually Had almost unlimited powers John Winthrop was first governor Representative assembly also elected annually New England Families Puritans migrated as families Stability Promoted growth Women had few rights Gave up property rights after marriage Common beliefs meant social harmony 4
Agriculture Broad ownership of land Most farmers were 50 acres or less Needed to move westward No crop rotation Gap between rich and poor not large Owning land meant Economic power Political power (influence and, after 1691, required for voting) Poor land quality meant more cities, centers of trade Separatist Complete separation of church and state Puritans had some separation (ex. Clergy could not hold office) Church still had a lot of influence Puritans intruding on Indian land Fled in 1636 and obtained charter for Rhode Island in 1644 Built first Baptist church in colonies Roger Williams Anne Hutchinson Antinomianism Faith alone necessary for salvation Said she talked directly with God Goes against obeying law Goes against work being sign of being the Elect Kicked out of Massachusetts in 1638 5
New England Spreads Maine in 1623 Absorbed by Mass. In 1677 New Hampshire in 1629 Absorbed by Mass. In 1641 Connecticut founded in 1636 by Thomas Hooker New Haven in 1639 Will merge with Connecticut in 1662 Indian Relations Europeans brought disease Natives die and Puritans take land Showed God was on their side New England expansion brings more contact and clashes 1637: War with Pequots in Connecticut Pequots sided with Dutch which made them trade rivals English and Native allies beat Pequots Pequots virtually destroyed King Philip s War King Philip (Metacom) formed alliance of Indian tribes in 1675 Tired of treatment by English Coordinated attacks in New England 1676: 52 towns attacked King Philip captured ending war Natives not much of a threat after this. Did slow westward expansion 6
New England Federation (1643) Four New England colonies unite to protect themselves Plymouth Massachusetts Bay Connecticut New Haven First attempt at colonial union Changing Values As more people come to colonies: More people pursue riches--move away from Protestant Work Ethic Expanding out of towns and away from church and neighbors More diversity Puritans dispersed Dampened religious zeal Half-Way Convenant (1662) Diversity meant fewer conversions New rule for church membership Non-Puritans ( Non-Elect ) could be baptized but could not receive full communion Weakened distinction between Puritans and non-puritans Gave non-puritans a say in government Weakened Puritan control in New England 7