How was your break?!

Individual Rights To what extent should the government be able to monitor our activities? What might be the benefits of government intervention in private affairs? What might be some of the dangers/pitfalls?

Puritanism What do you remember from the first semester? What do you already know about the Salem Witch Trials? How excited are you to go to Boston?!

Puritanism

Puritanism is Calvinism Founded by John Calvin Calvinism is based on interpretations from the Bible Puritans were discontent with English Church… So they came to the New World (the Americas) Bible is God’s word and should be followed word for word.

Puritanism 1620’s- 1730’s Trust in God regardless of circumstances Religious Life and secular life are connected Knowledge highly valued…but all comes from Bible

Protestant reformation Jean Calvin begins teaching Calvinism Puritanism Timeline Calvinism forms denominations Pilgrims land in Plymouth Puritans begin Massachusetts Bay Colony Great Awakening

8 God is All Powerful God has supreme authority over man God has supreme authority over man They were to pursue both moral purity down to the smallest detail as well as salvation to the highest level They were to pursue both moral purity down to the smallest detail as well as salvation to the highest level The Bible has power of all earthly laws The Bible has power of all earthly laws Puritans believed in predestination Puritans believed in predestination God chooses the people he wants to save (Not all were welcome!) God chooses the people he wants to save (Not all were welcome!)

Puritan thought on Mankind… Evil is originated and maintained by man (it’s our fault we have problems!) Adam and Eve (1597) by Peter Paul Rubens (artist raised by Calvinist parents )

10 Puritan thoughts on Mankind… Man’s purpose is to worship and glorify God. Man must worship through Clergy (organized church) Why? Distrust of individual ability. Everything done as a community. Man has a predetermined destiny leading to Salvation or reprobation

Puritanism Puritans = chosen by God and came to New World on divine mission to build the “City on a Hill” (Mathew) Thought of themselves as the new Israelites in the Promised Land

Nature is Wild Believed in a literal (word-for-word) Genesis creation (“In the beginning…) Everything uncontrolled is dangerous and therefore sinful. Believed Supernatural (metaphysical), the Seen and the Unseen worlds co-exist Strong society keeps out Devil Church represses evil.

13 More on Puritanism… Puritan society lasted one hundred years The Salem Witch Trials began the collapse of society…

The Salem Witch Trials When & Where: Salem, Massachusetts (now Danvers) March-October 1692

Salem, Massachusetts

What Happened? Puritans in the 17 th century believed in three different kinds of witchcraft: “White magic”: the use of charms and spells to bring good luck “Black magic”: uses spells and incantations (chants) to harm others “Satanic servitude”: dedicating one’s life to the service of the devil

The girls suffered from delirium, convulsions, incomprehensible speech, trance-like states, and odd skin sensations. Several young girls accused other town-folk of magically possessing them and therefore being witches working with Satan.

 The worried villagers searched desperately for an explanation, and concluded that the girls had been “bewitched” by members of their own pious community.  The community sentenced the accused to either confess to being witches or be hanged. Such a confession would have spared their lives, but, they believed, condemned their souls.

 All cases that were heard ended with the accused being sentenced to death for witchcraft; no one was found innocent. Only those who pleaded guilty and supplied names of others to the court were spared execution.

Sometimes the accused would be “tested” by extreme and irrational measures. For example, they would tie a rock to an accused person’s feet and throw him or her into the water. If the person sank, he/she was innocent. If the person floated, he/she was surely a witch. Hmm…see the problem here?

The witch trials led to the death of over 20 people and the imprisonment of many more.

How Did It End? A man named Thomas Brattle wrote a letter criticizing the witch trials and the use of spectral evidence. The letter had a strong influence on Massachusetts Governor William Phips, and on October 29 he ordered that the witch trials be officially ended.

A period of atonement began in the colony following the release of the surviving accused witches. Samuel Sewall, one of the judges, issued a public confession of guilt and an apology. Several jurors came forward to say that they were "sadly deluded and mistaken" in their judgments. Reverend Samuel Parris conceded errors of judgment, but mostly shifted blame to others.

Why Did It Even Happen? 1. Strong belief that Satan is acting in the world. --"The invisible world": disease, natural catastrophes, and bad fortune attributed to work of the devil. 2. A time of troubles, which made it seem likely that Satan was active and created a fertile ground for fear & suspicion (Smallpox, congregational strife in Salem Village, rivalry with nearby Salem Town, frontier wars with Indians )

3. Convulsive ergotism, a disease caused by eating infected rye that can produce hallucinations, causing strange behavior (Interesting theory, but unlikely.)

4. Teenage boredom= create their own drama! --No television, no technology, and lots of Bible reading --Strict and humorless Parris household

5. Old feuds (disputes within congregation, property disputes) between the accusers and the accused spurred charges of witchcraft

Stand Up for a Cause For five minutes, write about a cause that’s important to you. Share out. To what extent are you willing to stand up for that cause? Now, stand up!

Homework Act 1 by next time Thursday/Friday. Be ready for a quiz!

Further Salem Witch Trial Information.. s/salem/salem.htm And for fun: 4eXA