Puritan Government and Society By: Haley Brown, Alison Hunt, Trey Renshaw, Aaron Wilson, Kayla Cooper, and Ethan Guinn

Puritan Type of Government The main Puritan type of Government was Family government, (also resulting in Family worship), which was an obligation of the Christian head of the household. What does this mean? The Puritans believed that family was the most important of the three arenas in their Puritan vision, which included the family, the church, and the state. They believed they should integrate family into everything or all else would fail. Edmund S. Morgan once said, “ If the family failed to teach its members properly, neither the state nor the church could be expected to accomplish much.” This form of government was formed by the consent of the governed to God, law of justice, and the guidance and control of the superiors.

Common Forms of Punishment Minor forms of punishments are usually monetary funds. Often times authorities would humiliate puritans by putting them in stocks with a rope around their necks and people that pass by would often spit or throw garbage at them. Sometimes individuals would wear a symbolic letter, like “A” for adulteress, to remind the community of their crime. Some crimes would lead people to be imprisoned or banished and serious physical pain would often be inflicted (i.e. whipping, branding, and cropping the ear)

Form of Punishment Revealing Puritan Values Puritans believed that failure to fulfill obligations to the creator, God, would anger him and result in punishment Different forms of punishments served as a purpose to inspire individuals to repent and follow the social norm These punishments show how Puritans focus their values on money and God Monetary punishments prove that they respect the value of money and don’t take advantage of it Puritans focused largely on religion and felt they had a duty to punish those who disrespect their beliefs- this shows how much they value religion The severity of Puritan punishments show how they value discipline and do not let poor behavior go unnoticed

The Arbella Covenant -Written by John Winthrop in 1630. John Winthrop was a Puritan Layman, and leader who delivered "A Model of Christian Charity," while on board the Arbella. The arbella covenant and the Mayflower compact shaped the politics, religion, and social behavior of those who first landed and settled in New England (winthrop). The arbella is one of 11 ships taking over a thousand puritans to Massachusetts. It was the largest original venture ever attempted in the English New World (Massachusetts Bay).

Arabella Covenant (continued) Puritans believe in predestination. In the arbella covenant it says ,“that God is all-powerful and all-knowing; therefore, the fate of each individual soul is known to God at birth. Nothing an individual can do or say could change their ultimate fate.” Those who were chosen by god, would experience conversion-- god reveals his grace to the individual (massachusetts Bay). Arabella Covenant and Mayflower covenant

Religion’s Role in Government The Puritans viewed family government, and therefore family worship, as an obligation of the Christian head of a household. The Puritans viewed the male head of the household as the one Biblically responsible for commanding and instructing the family in the way of the Lord. Every morning immediately upon rising and every evening before retiring a good Puritan father led his household in prayer, in scriptural reading, and in singing of psalms.

Problems Arising Due to the Combination of Church and State In Puritan Government, Church and State were considered a whole- not separated as they often are currently. This means that people could be punished on a state level for spiritual crimes, and state leaders led the Church. This caused several issues: All people of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were taxed to support the Church, even if they didn’t follow that religion (Tallant) People wanted Freedom of Religion- it was the reason that they colonized in the first place. Puritanism was required when they combined Church and State, which was the opposite of their desires (Tallant) Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were required to attend church services- even if they didn’t agree with the Puritan religion. This could easily result in conflicts (Mattapan Square 1990)

Puritan Crimes Revealing Values Puritan values were centered around God and the ideals he praised. The Puritans were Christian and everyday they sought to create a more holy society, trying to separate themselves from the devil and its practices. The rules their society created were expected to be followed. The following were illegal: Idleness Long Hair Duck Hunting Swearing Skipping Church Gossip When these rules were broken, forms of punishment ranged from public humiliation to execution. Any type of crime had its own punishment and the extent of the punishment was determined by the judges vote. The law systems that they had created was so exact and specific revealing their value personal value of God in their community.

Review Kahoot

Citations Slide Two: Slide Three: Slide Four: Slide Five: By 1560, Those Who Wished to Continue Purifying, Perry Miller, and Thomas H. Johnson. "Introduction: The Puritans." Introduction: The Puritans. N.p., 23 Jan. 2005. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. Ptacek, Kerry. "Family and Government in Puritan New England by Kerry Ptacek." Grace Online Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. Slide Three: Fisk, Judy. "Puritan Ways of Punishment." Our Everyday Life. Judy Fisk, StudioD, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. Slide Four: Slide Five: Http://winthropsociety.com/doc_Charity.php, Full Text. "Arbella Covenant." #1: From The Arbella Covenant or "A Modell of Christian Charity" (1630) by John Winthrop (n.d.): n. pag. Osheaenglish. John Winthrop, 4 Nov. 2016. Web. 4 Nov. 2016. "Massachusetts Bay — "The City Upon a Hill"" Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016.

Citations continued Slide Six: Slide Seven: Slide Eight: Slide Nine: Http://winthropsociety.com/doc_Charity.php, Full Text. "Arbella Covenant." #1: From The Arbella Covenant or "A Modell of Christian Charity" (1630) by John Winthrop (n.d.): n. pag. Osheaenglish. John Winthrop, 4 Nov. 2016. Web. 4 Nov. 2016. "Massachusetts Bay — "The City Upon a Hill"" Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. Slide Seven: Grace Online “Library Family and Government in Puritan New England” by Kerry Ptacek 09 November 2016 Slide Eight: Tallant, Harold D. "The Puritans and Church & State." The Puritans and Church & State. N.p., 9 Feb. 1999. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. "Mattapan Square 1990." Related Keywords & Suggestions. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016. Slide Nine: Cox, James A. "Colonial Crimes and Punishments." : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site. Colonial Williamsburg Magazine, n.d. Web. 04Col Nov. 2016.