1. Puritans 1560-1700

2. Puritans arrive in America  Puritans came to America, escaping the government’s control over religion (King Henry VIII)  Because of rebellion Puritans in England were persecuted; some being jailed, others being physically abused (like their noses/ears were chopped off)  Puritans believed religion ran gov’t, not the other way around  Pilgrims also came to America, but they left the church all together – The Pilgrams and Puritans are two different groups; even though they both wore those funny hats with the belt buckle on them

3. Puritan Beliefs  Puritans followed THEOLOGY (form of Gov’t that is ruled under the immediate guidance of God)  Puritans wanted to purify the church  Leaders of the church were leaders of the community

4. Puritan Beliefs (cont)  The Elect and Degenerate  How did they know if they were saved? (you just knew)  Just in case, Puritans valued certain things, hopefully helping them to be “saved”: self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, simplicity

5. Puritan Beliefs (cont)  LIVED BY 5 BELIEFS 1. Humans exist for the glory of God 2. God intervenes continually in their lives 3. They carved a safe/pure place for the 2 nd coming of Christ 4. Predestination 5. The Elect

6. Puritan Literature  The Bible (showed you how to live a good life)  Diaries (showed personal views of Puritans)  Histories (documented Puritan life)  Sermons (taught Puritans how to be “good”) What was the point of literature during the Puritan Era?

7. Influential Puritan Authors  Jonathan Edwards – famous minister, known for his fire/brimstone sermons – famous minister, known for his fire/brimstone sermons  Anne Bradstreet – first known American Woman Writer, poet, didn’t mean to become well-known – first known American Woman Writer, poet, didn’t mean to become well-known  Cotton Mather – strict minister, invented “vaccines”, actually more connected to where American was going, then were it was coming from – strict minister, invented “vaccines”, actually more connected to where American was going, then were it was coming from

8. Puritan Lifestyle  Puritans lived VERY plain life; farm and pray… What’s the Problem with having such a plain and strict lifestyle? (boredom… turns into rebellion) ……thus the Salem Witch Trials ……thus the Salem Witch Trials

9. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692  Because Puritans were supposed to be “good” (hopefully), to act out of the expected behavior must have meant you were either a “witch” or had been “bewitched”.  The trouble started with a group of teenage girls who got caught dancing in the forest…

10. Salem Witch Trials (cont)  Girls first “name” people who are looked down upon in Puritan community (beggars and drunks)  Then singled out old single women with land…why?

11. Salem Witch Trials (cont)  Spectral Evidence was allowed –If the victim said something, it was true, b/c a witch would lie… –You were guilty until proven innocent  Soon, people realized they could target their enemies or get rid of neighbors if they wanted their property, money, power…

12. Salem Witch Trial  It wasn’t until one of the judge’s wives was accused of being a witch, that they started to really look at what was going on…  19 people were hanged and around 100 were jailed as being witches If you told the truth (you’re not a witch) you would be tortured/killed If you lied, and said “I’m a witch,” you’d be jailed and saved, but you would have sinned and then went to hell (according to the Puritan beliefs)

13. End of the Puritan Era  People started looking to reason and science to figure out life and wanted more answers than…. B/C God says so….  It was a slow change, but by mid- 1700s the country was no longer dominantly ruled by the Puritan beliefs….