The Puritans???-1750

Why it sucked to be one. . .

Who Were the Puritans?• Religious reformers• Tried to “purify” the Church of England• When that didnt work, they moved to

America.• Tried to establish a “city upon the hill”-- a

model community guided by the Bible• Used theocracy as a form of government

Beliefs• Predestination:

– God has already decided who will and won’t be saved

– Cannot be changed – If you are “chosen” and do not behave,

salvation can be taken away from you.– Salvation can’t be earned if you are not

one of the “chosen”

Moved to Massachusetts. ..

Beliefs Cont.• People are born evil

– You must fight to stay loyal to God

• The Bible is the rule and guide of faith– The Bible must be taken literally

• Anything that is “fun” or entertainment, is sinful

The Good• Created the first free education: Grammar

Schools• Were instrumental in the success of Harvard• Believed in

– Hard work– Frugality– Self-improvement– Self-reliance

The Bad• Used scare tactics to get people to behave• Believed in harsh punishments for “crimes”

including– The stocks– Wearing letters

Illustrating crimes

‘A’ for adultery,

‘D’ for drunk, etc.

The Ugly• Puritans were

responsible for The Salem Witch Trials

• 100’s of people were jailed for being “witches”

• 20 people were killed• Used religious beliefs

as justification for torture and murder

The Literature• All Puritan writing focused on religion• They wrote to achieve spiritual insight and

self-examination• They wrote:

– Theological studies– Hymns– Histories– Biographies and Autobiographies

Anne Bradstreet • Anne Bradstreet (born

Anne Dudley; c. 1612 – September 16, 1672) was the first poet and first female writer in the British North American colonies to be published.

• Anne Bradstreet died on September 16, 1672 in Massachusetts at the age of 60. The precise location of her grave is uncertain but many historians believe her body is in the Old Burying Ground at Academy Road and Osgood Street in North Andover.

Interesting Facts

• Descendants

• Herbert Hoover- 31st president of US

• Oliver Wendell Holmes-Famous Poet

• David Souter- Supreme Court Judge (1990-2009)

• John Kerry-Secretary of State

Role of Women• In the Puritan Society in which

Bradstreet lived, women, who were seen as inferior, were expected to serve their husbands and homes obediently in all matters, and wives were considered their husband's property.

Role of Women• Marriage was a big role in the lives of Puritan women.

The Puritans believed that marriage is a gift that was ordained by God. In Bradstreet’s poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband”, she reveals that she is one with her husband.

“To My Dear and Loving Husband”

• Read the poem by yourself. • When everyone in your group is finished,

as a group discuss the following questions:– What surprised you about this poem? – Does this poem seem to fit with Puritan style?

Why or why not? – What do you think other Puritans thought

about this poem at the time?

Edward Taylor • Edward Taylor (1642 – June 29, 1729)

was a colonial American poet, pastor and physician.

Some facts• Married a woman named Elizabeth

Finch. They had 8 children, but 5 of them died in infancy.

• Elizabeth also died fairly young.

• Married a woman named Ruth Wyllys and they had 5 or 6 more children.

• Taylor died on June 29th, 1729.

Interesting Fact • Because Taylor thought poetry was a form of

personal worship, he left instructions that none of his work be published.

• For 200 years, his work was just left in a leather bound manuscript.

• It wasn’t unitl 1937 that the majority of his work was publish.

• He is considered the finest American Colonial Poet.

“Huswifery”

• Read the poem by yourself. • When everyone in your group is finished, as a group

discuss the following questions:– Huswifery means “housekeeping” given the title,

were you surprised by the content of this poem? Explain

– Does this poem seem to fit with Puritan style? Why or why not?

– What do you think other Puritans thought about this poem at the time?

Jonathan Edwards • An American theologian born in East

Windsor Connecticut.

• Began preaching in 1727 in one of the largest Puritan congregations.

• Became one of the leaders of the “Great Awakening” a religious revival that swept the colonies in 1730-1740.

“Sinners” Listen to the sermon………..

Then, well talk about it