City Upon a Hill Puritans in America

Puritans Puritans are harassed by King Charles and the Church and flee England in 1630 They wanted to “purify” the Church of it’s Catholic practices Receive a royal charter to settle in New England and are a joint-stock company Are well prepared for any problem and do not suffer any hardships like the “Starving Time”

John Winthrop Winthrop disagreed with many of the actions of the Church of England. He soon developed a new venture: a commercial enterprise that offered the chance for religious freedom in the New World. This venture was called the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop was aware that hardships had claimed the lives of half the Pilgrims who had settled in Plymouth 10 years earlier.

John Winthrop As the Puritans began their voyage, Winthrop delivered a sermon called “A City Upon a Hill.” In this sermon, he urged his fellow travelers to honor their duties and obligations Sense of “holy duty”

Political Development of Massachusetts Bay Colony The Puritans hold town meetings were men meet to make laws and discussed community issues Only male church members could vote on issues and elect their representatives Those that can vote in local government are called “freemen”

Life in the MBC They learn agricultural techniques and learn how to farm corn, beans, pumpkins, and potatoes Indians trade for blankets, iron pots, metal tipped arrows and guns Puritans concentrate on raising livestock which need open fields to graze and desire Indian land

Rebel Puritans- Anne Hutchinson Moved to Mass. Bay and held weekly meetings about differing theological views Protested against the clergy of the church (believed you could worship God without being a church member) Opposed by John Winthrop Tried for “traducing the ministers”, convicted and banished in 1637 Refused to recant and excommunicated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcjzLXuD-uQ

Social Life in MBC Required to attend church services “New England Way”- belief that you should work hard, be honest and be a good person Education is mandatory, every Puritan is expected to be able to read the bible John Winthrop, a lawyer and religious leader wants New England to be “A City Upon a Hill”

Economical Development of MBC The region is not flat like in the Chesapeake Bay region (no land to plant crops) Puritans adapt to region and are involved in fishing, fur trading, lumbering and farming Become the largest ship building region of the colonies due the forest areas surrounding them Puritans were heavily involved in trade with the Caribbean and Europe