Puritans English 10

Background Theirs was the position of the Separatist: they believed that the reforms of the Anglican church had not gone far enough. To establish themselves as rightful interpreters of the Bible independent of an inherited social and cultural order, they removed from the Anglican Church in order to re-establish it as they believed it truly should be. This of course meant leaving the country, and they left for Holland in 1608.

Background After 12 years, they decided to move again. Having gone back to England to obtain the backing of the Virginia Company, 102 Pilgrims set out for America.

Reasons for leaving Holland The reasons are suggested by William Bradford, when he notes the "discouragements" of the hard life they had in Holland, and the hope of attracting others by finding "a better, and easier place of living"; the "children" of the group being "drawne away by evill examples into extravagence and dangerous courses";

The Mayflower Pilgrims arrive in 1620 the first of their reasons for sailing to America is fairly passive--they want to "draw" others by the example of their prosperity, not necessarily go conquer and actively convert. Such an idea reflects the one that would be expressed explicitly by the Puritan John Winthrop, where the New World would become a beacon of religious light, a model of spiritual promise, a "city upon a hill."

Mayflower Compact The Compact thus arose out of a need to maintain social and civic coherence, to ensure that the officials elected and the group as a whole would have some legitimation against challenges to its "legal authority" (McQuade, 140; Wheelwright, 32).

Mayflower Compact Michael Kammen, however, notes a "tradition" in the early 19th century "in which the Compact was viewed as part of the repudiation of English domination" (Kammen, 64).

The Travails of the Pilgrims The first few months were grueling for the Pilgrims. Half of their 102 members perished: "of the 17 male heads of families, ten died during the first infection"

Travails of the Pilgrims of the 17 wives, only three were left after three months

The Treaty with Massasoit (in the original writing) 1. That neither he (Massasoit) nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurt to any of their peopl(e). .2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him. .3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do like to him. .4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did warr against them, he should aide them. He should send to his neighbours confederates, to certifie them of his, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.

Other Puritanical Beliefs We must overcome our sinful nature Predestination- God has already chosen the ‘elect’ The Bible is the ‘supreme’ authority