PuritansPuritans

1560-17001560-1700

Puritans arrive in AmericaPuritans arrive in America Puritans came to America, Puritans came to America,

escaping the government’s escaping the government’s control over religion (King control over religion (King Henry VIII)Henry VIII)

Because of rebellion Because of rebellion Puritans in England were Puritans in England were persecuted; some being persecuted; some being jailed, others being jailed, others being physically abused (like their physically abused (like their noses/ears were chopped noses/ears were chopped off)off)

Puritans believed religion Puritans believed religion ran gov’t, not the other way ran gov’t, not the other way aroundaround

Pilgrims also came to America, Pilgrims also came to America, but they left the church all but they left the church all together – The Pilgrams and together – The Pilgrams and Puritans are two different Puritans are two different groups; even though they both groups; even though they both wore those funny hats with the wore those funny hats with the belt buckle on thembelt buckle on them

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs

Puritans followed Puritans followed THEOLOGY THEOLOGY (form of Gov’t (form of Gov’t that is ruled under the immediate that is ruled under the immediate guidance of God)guidance of God)

Puritans wanted to Puritans wanted to purify the churchpurify the church

Leaders of the Leaders of the church were leaders church were leaders of the communityof the community

Puritan Beliefs (cont)Puritan Beliefs (cont)

The Elect and DegenerateThe Elect and Degenerate

How did they know if they were saved?How did they know if they were saved?

(you just knew)(you just knew) Just in case, Puritans valued certain things, Just in case, Puritans valued certain things,

hopefully helping them to be “saved”:hopefully helping them to be “saved”:

self-reliance, industriousness, self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, simplicity temperance, simplicity

Puritan Beliefs (cont)Puritan Beliefs (cont) LIVED BY 5 LIVED BY 5

BELIEFSBELIEFS1.1. Humans exist for the Humans exist for the

glory of Godglory of God2.2. God intervenes God intervenes

continually in their continually in their liveslives

3.3. They carved a They carved a safe/pure place for safe/pure place for the 2the 2ndnd coming of coming of ChristChrist

4.4. PredestinationPredestination5.5. The ElectThe Elect

Puritan LiteraturePuritan Literature The Bible The Bible (showed you how to live a good life)(showed you how to live a good life)

Diaries Diaries (showed personal views of Puritans)(showed personal views of Puritans)

Histories Histories (documented Puritan life)(documented Puritan life)

Sermons Sermons (taught Puritans how to be “good”)(taught Puritans how to be “good”)

What was the point of literature during the Puritan What was the point of literature during the Puritan Era?Era?

Influential Puritan AuthorsInfluential Puritan Authors Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards – – famous minister, known for famous minister, known for

his fire/brimstone sermonshis fire/brimstone sermons

Anne Bradstreet Anne Bradstreet – – first known American Woman first known American Woman

Writer, poet, didn’t mean to Writer, poet, didn’t mean to become well-knownbecome well-known

Cotton Mather Cotton Mather – – strict minister, invented strict minister, invented

“vaccines”, actually more “vaccines”, actually more connected to where American connected to where American was going, then were it was was going, then were it was coming from coming from

Puritan LifestylePuritan Lifestyle Puritans lived VERY Puritans lived VERY

plain life; farm and plain life; farm and pray…pray…

What’s the Problem What’s the Problem with having such a with having such a plain and strict plain and strict lifestyle?lifestyle?

(boredom… turns into (boredom… turns into rebellion)rebellion)

…… ……thus the Salem Witch Trialsthus the Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch TrialsThe Salem Witch Trialsof 1692of 1692

Because Puritans were supposed to Because Puritans were supposed to be “good” (hopefully), to act out of be “good” (hopefully), to act out of the expected behavior must have the expected behavior must have meant you were either a “witch” or meant you were either a “witch” or had been “bewitched”.had been “bewitched”.

The trouble started with a group of The trouble started with a group of teenage girls who got caught teenage girls who got caught dancing in the forest… dancing in the forest…

Salem Witch Trials (cont)Salem Witch Trials (cont)

Girls first “name” Girls first “name” people who are people who are looked down upon looked down upon in Puritan in Puritan community community (beggars and (beggars and drunks)drunks)

Then singled out Then singled out old single women old single women with land…why?with land…why?

Salem Witch Trials (cont)Salem Witch Trials (cont)

Spectral Evidence was allowedSpectral Evidence was allowed– If the victim said something, it was true, If the victim said something, it was true,

b/c a witch would lie…b/c a witch would lie…– You were guilty until proven innocent You were guilty until proven innocent

Soon, people realized they could Soon, people realized they could target their enemies or get rid of target their enemies or get rid of neighbors if they wanted their neighbors if they wanted their property, money, power…property, money, power…

Salem Witch TrialSalem Witch Trial

It wasn’t until one It wasn’t until one of the judge’s of the judge’s wives was accused wives was accused of being a witch, of being a witch, that they started to that they started to really look at what really look at what was going on…was going on…

19 people were 19 people were hanged and around hanged and around 100 were jailed as 100 were jailed as being witchesbeing 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)

End of the Puritan EraEnd of the Puritan Era

People started looking to reason and People started looking to reason and science to figure out life and wanted science to figure out life and wanted more answers than…. B/C God says more answers than…. B/C God says so….so….

It was a slow change, but by mid-It was a slow change, but by mid-1700s the country was no longer 1700s the country was no longer dominantly ruled by the Puritan dominantly ruled by the Puritan beliefs….beliefs….