1. Puritans and the Enlightenment

2. What started it all? Early 1530s: England Catherine of Aragon
Henry VIII
Anne Bolyen

3. The Church of England Henry VIII becomes supreme ruler of church
Some angry for various reasons
Many Catholics in England
No separation between government and church
Church seemed to remain very Catholic in style

4. The Continued Struggle
Following Henry VIII: Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth
Constant switch of official religious beliefs in country
Puritan movement begins
Various approaches but common goal of “purifying” the church
Puritans did NOT want to leave the Church of England; they wished to reform it. The Pilgrims DID want to start their own church. TOTALLY DIFFERENT!

5. Arrival in America Arrive in the 1600s
Established the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Want simpler, less ornate worship
Believe themselves to be God’s new chosen people
Settlement will be “as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.” John Winthrop (1630)

6. Beliefs
All are born corrupted by original sin (idea that all humans are innately sinful, inherited from Adam and Eve)
Religious education and obedience offers potential for redemption.
Bible is God’s true law and should be followed without question.
Government should be based on religious law (See #3)= Theocracy

7. Beliefs 5. Only the “elect” would be spared from damnation by God.
6. Those who work hard and are thrift and responsible are morally upstanding and have God working within them.

8. Beliefs 7. Predestination: a pre-determined life
Salvation determined by God’s will/laws
Unknown fate = always had to work hard
Looked for divine signs to see if God approved or not
Generated an atmosphere of distrust and paranoia

9. Puritan Life Practiced public punishment.
Legislated morality.
Excessive drinking, gambling, adultery were all subject to punishment.
Wives and children were expected to obey the fathers.
Had very few celebrations. Holidays and celebration were illegal.

11. Puritan Style Wrote: Plain: Straightforwardness Simplicity
Clarity
Straightforwardness
Simplicity
Lack of ornamentation.
(in churches, writing, etc.)
Wrote:
Religious Tracts/Poetry
Historical Documents
Journals to analyze their Pre-Destination

12. Hysteria Intolerant of dissenters; inflexible in beliefs
Salem Witch Trials- 1692
Belief that devil possession or witchcraft was causing strange behavior
Accusations were rampant
Religious zeal called for
ending devil’s influence
20 deaths, hundreds of
arrests

13. The Shift
Have different visions of what constitutes best form of government
Enlightenment thinkers: government by people
Enlightenment ideals cause colonists to question Puritan thoughts
Puritan leaders also ask for rededication to religion as this happens: Sparks First Great Awakening

14. Enlightenment Beliefs
More personal freedoms
Move away from predestination
Some view God as more reasonable and believe that man can use rationality to understand more about laws of nature.
Government should offer protection of basic rights/freedoms in exchange for compliance.
Fair election and representation
“No Taxation without Representation!”

15. Effects of Enlightenment
Greater focus on education, specifically science
Transatlantic conversations between scholars
Separation of religion and government
Fomented the ideas and leaders of the Revolution

16. Enlightenment Writings
“War of Ideas”: newspapers, pamphlets, and speeches spread to awaken America to independence
Usually found in speech/ pamphlets in American Revolution
Sought to inspire others to join the cause
Persuasive: Full of rhetoric and rhetorical devices
Use of humor/mockery

17. Founding Fathers’ Enlightenment Ideals
Helped to ensure religious freedom
Set up modern day democracy and elections
Challenged people to use ideas and thoughts rather than blind faith

18. Bibliography http://www.history.com/topics/puritanism