AIM: What role did religion play in the founding of the New England colonies?

The Protestant Reformation gives rise to Puritanism 1517, Martin Luther began his break from the Catholic church; signaled the birth of Protestantism Luther declared the Bible alone was the source of God's word. Faith alone would determine salvation; he denounced the authority of the pope. The Reformation came to dominate European politics well into the next century. Image: public domain

England's Economy in a crisis During the 1620’s, the economy in England suffered a recession… Many people lost their jobs The king, Charles I, was raising taxes and being VERY HOSTILE towards his people This led to a political crisis!

At the same time, the Church of England began to punish the Puritans because they were disagreeing with Church policies King Charles I refused to let the Puritans criticize (go against) the Church! Puritans believed the Church of England was the one true church and they were loyal to England, BUT not in the way they worshipped… We have to get away from this guy! You must listen to the Church! Or else! Puritans King Charles I

In a nutshell… The Puritans were a group of people who criticized (wanted to “purify”) the corruption and hierarchy in the Church of England. The Church of England was the official church in England that everyone automatically belonged to. Puritans were more extreme Protestants within the Church of England who thought the English Reformation had not gone far enough in reforming the doctrines and structure of the church.

B. The Puritans get out of England! All of the problems in England led to the Great Migration In 1629, Charles I granted a group of Puritans could settle in New England Thousands of English men, women, and children left England They were still loyal to the Church of England, but believed they could purify the behavior of individuals (purify the Church from within)

C. The Puritans form a colony in New England In 1630, the Puritans left England for Massachusetts to seek religious freedom They were led by a man named John Winthrop The Puritans believed that they had made a promise with God to build an ideal Christian community

John Winthrop 1588-1649 English colonial administrator who was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, serving seven terms between 1629 and 1649.

PURITAN THEOLOGY Non-religious men and all women could not vote Town-hall meetings emerged as a staple of democracy Town governments allowed all male property holders and at times other residents to vote and publicly discuss issues. Majority-rule show of hands. Provincial gov't under Governor Winthrop was not a democracy Only Puritans -- the "visible saints" -- could be freemen; only freemen could vote Hated democracy and distrusted non-Puritan common people.     Congregational church was "established": Non-church members as well as believers required to pay taxes for the gov't-supported church.       

The New England Primer: Colonial School in the Northeast Puritan Education 1. The Bible should be read by everyone. New England in the 17th century was the most literate place in the world (probably 70% literacy) 2. Publicly supported schools needed to oppose Satan ("Old Deluder" laws). Each town with 50 families was required to support a teacher.  3. Harvard College founded in 1636 to train ministers The New England Primer: Colonial School in the Northeast

Leaders – English Colonies John Winthrop (MA Bay Colony) John Smith (Jamestown, VA) Sought adventure, fortune Strong leadership skills Helped Jamestown survive through food shortages and disease Jamestown almost failed after he left! Sought freedom from the Anglican church Strong leadership skills Established the Puritan church as the foundation of society and local gov’t Had very rigid rules and was very intolerant

D. The Massachusetts Bay Colony The Puritans arrived in New England well-prepared to start their new colony They brought tools and animals with them They traded with the Indians The area had a good climate

E. Religion and Government in New England The Massachusetts Bay Colony still had to obey English laws But they created a General Court to help run the colony This court represented the needs of the people Government leaders were also church members Ministers often had a lot of power in Puritan communities Colonists became God’s “elect” or chosen ones (had to pass a public test to prove their faith was strong)

A City Upon A Hill is a phrase from the parable of Salt and Light in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:14, he tells his listeners, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Winthrop admonished the future Massachusetts Bay colonists that their new community would be a "city upon a hill", watched by the world. Winthrop's sermon gave rise to the widespread belief in American folklore that the United States of America is God's country because metaphorically it is a Shining City upon a Hill, an early example of American exceptionalism. What impact do you think this belief had on the development of the N.E. colonies? How do you think this belief may still be prevalent today? What impact do you think this belief had on the development of the N.E. colonies. Write down an example of how this belief may still be prevalent today.

The New England Colonies in the 17th Century Harvard College founded Pilgrims arrive in Plymouth King Philip’s War 1636 1620 1629 1644 1675 1692 Puritans found Massachusetts Bay Rhode Island founded Salem Witch Trials

Aim: What role did the strict nature of Puritanism play in its decline?

SOME PEOPLE’S PURITAN VALUES DIFFERED FROM WINTHROP’S…AND THE COLONY WOULD SPREAD… (These people are the rebels…)

Religious Rebels… Thomas Hooker and his followers left Massachusetts to help found Connecticut > He wrote the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which made the colony more DEMOCRATIC > Allowed men who were not church members to vote

“Forced religion stinks in the nostrils of God!” What did Roger Williams “do wrong”? “Are you kidding me, Roger?! You’re a PURITAN!” Roger Williams John Winthrop

2. Roger Williams was a Puritan who did not agree with the leadership in Massachusetts He believed that: the English settlers had no right to take away Native American land unless they purchased it from them; there shoud be religious tolerance for all people; Government officials had NO RIGHT to punish settlers for their religious beliefs!

Roger Williams on the loose! The General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony issued an arrest for Roger Williams to send him back to England. Williams fled Massachusetts Bay Colony and headed south to Narragansett Bay where he negotiated with the Narragansett tribe for land to set up a new colony: Providence, Rhode Island.

Williams guaranteed separation of church and state and religious freedom Rhode Island became a haven for people of different religious backgrounds. Roger Williams

3. Anne Hutchinson publicly discussed religious ideas that angered Puritan church leaders Believed that people’s relationship with God did NOT need guidance from ministers The Puritans didn’t like that a woman was speaking out against their ideas and leading Bible sessions The church put her on trial and kicked her out of Boston

The Trial of Anne Hutchinson “You have stepped out of your place, you have rather been a husband than a wife, and a preacher than a hearer. You have been a naughty woman.” Wikipedia Commons

She and her family joined Roger Williams in Rhode Island.

Do you think Anne Hutchinson was considered a large enough threat to banish her?

4. William Penn creates Pennsylvania A Puritan named William Penn disagreed with the Massachusetts way of worship! Quakers: religious group that believed Bibles and ministers were not necessary. They would quake and tremble in church when they received revelations from God. He creates the colony called Pennsylvania Promises religious freedom to ANYONE! Created a representative self-government that supported THE PEOPLE

How did the Salem Witch Trials begin? Betty Parris became strangely ill. She dashed about, dove under furniture, contorted in pain, and complained of fever. The cause of her symptoms may have been some combination of stress, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, epilepsy, and delusional psychosis. Talk of witchcraft increased when other playmates of Betty, including eleven-year-old Ann Putnam, seventeen-year-old Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott, began to exhibit similar unusual behavior. A doctor called to examine the girls, suggested that the girls' problems might have a supernatural origin. The widespread belief that witches targeted children made the doctor's diagnosis seem increasingly likely. -Douglas Linder

SALEM WITCH TRIALS The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts from March to September 1693, was one of the most notorious episodes in early American history. Based on the accusations of two young girls, Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams. Under British law and Puritan society those who were accused of consorting with the devil were considered felons, having committed a crime against their government. The punishment was hanging.

SALEM WITCH TRIALS Causes disapproval of Reverend Parris land disputes between families, Indian taught witchcraft to girls. Girls caught dancing, began to throw fits and accuse people of bewitching (To put under one's power by magic or cast a spell over) them to not get in trouble. 19 hung, 1 pressed, 55 confessed as witches and 150 awaited trial. Shows the strictness of Puritan society Shows how a rumor can cause hysteria even to illogical thinking. Later, many people involved admitted the trials & executions had been mistake.

The DECLINE of the Puritans First-generation Puritans began losing their religious energy as time went on. After the wave of dissention in the 1630s and 1640s (e.g. Hutchinson and Williams) conversions decreased dramatically. Children of non-converted members could not be baptized. Image is in the public domain