The Puritans The Puritans

‘Somebody, somewhere, is

having fun’

‘Somebody, somewhere, is

having fun’

Time LineTime Line

1492

Columbus comes to the New World

1775-1776

Revolutionary War begins

1608

Jamestown founded in

Virginia

1620

Pilgrims arrive in Mass.

1692

Salem Witch Trials

1720

Great Awakening

1629

Winthrop charters the Massachusetts Bay Company

Who were these people?!

Who were these people?!

Puritans: Groups of religious separatists who wanted to purify the church of England

Why did they migrate to Why did they migrate to America?America?Religious persecution in EuropeReligious persecution in EuropeLack of jobs and opportunityLack of jobs and opportunityPolitical repression – King James IPolitical repression – King James IDesire for controlDesire for control

Puritans: Groups of religious separatists who wanted to purify the church of England

Why did they migrate to Why did they migrate to America?America?Religious persecution in EuropeReligious persecution in EuropeLack of jobs and opportunityLack of jobs and opportunityPolitical repression – King James IPolitical repression – King James IDesire for controlDesire for control

Of Pilgrims and Puritans: What’s the difference?

Of Pilgrims and Puritans: What’s the difference?

All Pilgrims are Puritans, but not all Puritans are Pilgrims

Most Puritans are happy to keep the Church of England–simply want to PURIFY it by working from within (Winthrop, Bradstreet, Boston/Massachusetts Bay Co., est. 1630)

Pilgrims are radical Puritans—Church of England has to go—beyond salvation (Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, est. 1620)

Image: Facsimile of Bradford’s manuscript for Of Plymouth Plantation

All Pilgrims are Puritans, but not all Puritans are Pilgrims

Most Puritans are happy to keep the Church of England–simply want to PURIFY it by working from within (Winthrop, Bradstreet, Boston/Massachusetts Bay Co., est. 1630)

Pilgrims are radical Puritans—Church of England has to go—beyond salvation (Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, est. 1620)

Image: Facsimile of Bradford’s manuscript for Of Plymouth Plantation

Of Pilgrims and Puritans, 2Of Pilgrims and Puritans, 2 “Separatists” – Separate

from Church of England and therefore from England itself

Social outcasts – radical, subversive, persecuted

Of Mayflower and First Thanksgiving fame (a myth)

Image: First Thanksgiving, Jean Louise Gerome

Ferris, early 20th C.

“Separatists” – Separate from Church of England and therefore from England itself

Social outcasts – radical, subversive, persecuted

Of Mayflower and First Thanksgiving fame (a myth)

Image: First Thanksgiving, Jean Louise Gerome

Ferris, early 20th C.

Sovereignty of GodSovereignty of God

God is the Master of the Universe.

God is infinite, omnipotent, just, and mysterious.

Man is finite and basically evil.

Life. Is. God.

God is the Master of the Universe.

God is infinite, omnipotent, just, and mysterious.

Man is finite and basically evil.

Life. Is. God.

Puritan Religious Beliefs

Puritan Religious Beliefs

most people damned for all most people damned for all eternityeternity

mercy sent to save particular mercy sent to save particular or “chosen” onesor “chosen” ones

How do you know if you’re How do you know if you’re chosen?chosen?feel the grace via intense feel the grace via intense

emotionsemotionsinner grace reflected in outward inner grace reflected in outward

behavior behavior

most people damned for all most people damned for all eternityeternity

mercy sent to save particular mercy sent to save particular or “chosen” onesor “chosen” ones

How do you know if you’re How do you know if you’re chosen?chosen?feel the grace via intense feel the grace via intense

emotionsemotionsinner grace reflected in outward inner grace reflected in outward

behavior behavior

Worshipping God Worshipping God

Individual experienceIndividual experience - Each - Each worshipper experiences God worshipper experiences God individually and directly through individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study. faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of GodDirect presence of God - God’s - God’s hand was present in every hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.good and punished evil.

State of Sin – State of Sin – Man was Man was inherently evil and could only inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-improve through strict, self-discipline and religious discipline and religious communion.communion.

Individual experienceIndividual experience - Each - Each worshipper experiences God worshipper experiences God individually and directly through individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study. faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of GodDirect presence of God - God’s - God’s hand was present in every hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.good and punished evil.

State of Sin – State of Sin – Man was Man was inherently evil and could only inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-improve through strict, self-discipline and religious discipline and religious communion.communion.

PredestinationPredestinationSome humans are anointed by

God before birth to be “eligible” to go to heaven.

No one knows whether or not he or she is anointed, so all must work hard to achieve their predestination.

If one is good and works hard, he or she may go to heaven, but there is no free will. You can’t choose.

Bottom line: Puritans are FREAKED they might burn in hell!

Some humans are anointed by God before birth to be “eligible” to go to heaven.

No one knows whether or not he or she is anointed, so all must work hard to achieve their predestination.

If one is good and works hard, he or she may go to heaven, but there is no free will. You can’t choose.

Bottom line: Puritans are FREAKED they might burn in hell!

Individual experience - Each worshipper experiences God individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of God - God’s hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.

State of Sin – Man was inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-discipline and religious communion

No separation of church and state – Laws required church attendance, and criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and idleness.

Intolerance – The strictness of Puritan religion did not allow recognition of other religions

Individual experience - Each worshipper experiences God individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of God - God’s hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.

State of Sin – Man was inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-discipline and religious communion

No separation of church and state – Laws required church attendance, and criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and idleness.

Intolerance – The strictness of Puritan religion did not allow recognition of other religions

ProvidenceProvidence

God actively comes to Earth and makes things happen in order to reward or punish humans.

For example, if Jonny falls off his bike, God’s spirit literally pushed him off.

God actively comes to Earth and makes things happen in order to reward or punish humans.

For example, if Jonny falls off his bike, God’s spirit literally pushed him off.

Human DepravityHuman Depravity

Humans are not born innocent, but full of lustful, perverse, depraved, sick, sinful urges.

The work of humans is to overcome that depravity in order to become eligible for heaven.

Bottom Line: You must be “good enough” to get to heaven.

Humans are not born innocent, but full of lustful, perverse, depraved, sick, sinful urges.

The work of humans is to overcome that depravity in order to become eligible for heaven.

Bottom Line: You must be “good enough” to get to heaven.

Government: Theocracy

Government: Theocracy

No laws were needed because the Bible dictated behavior.

Government and church were one.

No separation of church No separation of church and stateand state – Laws required – Laws required church attendance, and church attendance, and criminalized immorality such criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and as drinking, swearing, and idleness.idleness.

No laws were needed because the Bible dictated behavior.

Government and church were one.

No separation of church No separation of church and stateand state – Laws required – Laws required church attendance, and church attendance, and criminalized immorality such criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and as drinking, swearing, and idleness.idleness.

Plainness & Simplicity

Plainness & Simplicity

Puritans were not allowed to dance, read, laugh, or partake in other idle entertainment.

All dress and architecture was simple, with no adornment.

Puritans were not allowed to dance, read, laugh, or partake in other idle entertainment.

All dress and architecture was simple, with no adornment.

ValuesValues

Industriousness – Belief in honest labor and using the time allotted by God

Temperance – Avoid sins such as alcohol, gambling, dancing, and extramarital sex

Simplicity – Live a moderate life so as not to be tempted by earthly things

Education – Free, popular education was needed to teach people to read the Bible

Point: These qualities of their religion also allowed them to be successful as a colony (in contrast to Virginia and its “gentlemen”)

Industriousness – Belief in honest labor and using the time allotted by God

Temperance – Avoid sins such as alcohol, gambling, dancing, and extramarital sex

Simplicity – Live a moderate life so as not to be tempted by earthly things

Education – Free, popular education was needed to teach people to read the Bible

Point: These qualities of their religion also allowed them to be successful as a colony (in contrast to Virginia and its “gentlemen”)

Puritan CelebritiesPuritan Celebrities

William Bradford

“Of Plymouth Plantation”

Jonathan Edwards

“Sinners in the

Hands of an Angry

God”

John Winthrop

“City upon a Hill”

GOD

ContributionsContributions

Within six years of arrival, they establish Harvard in 1636.

The Bay Colony required all youth to attend school.

first newspaper was published in Boston

Within six years of arrival, they establish Harvard in 1636.

The Bay Colony required all youth to attend school.

first newspaper was published in Boston

Puritan Childhood in Colonial America

Puritan Childhood in Colonial America

DemographicsDemographicsAges at marriage (late teens,

early 20’s)Life expectancies (60-70 years)High fertility rate (healthy) &

low infant mortality rate (20-25%)

Characterized by large (& nuclear) families (7-9 children)

Naming reflected cultural & religious values

Ages at marriage (late teens, early 20’s)

Life expectancies (60-70 years)High fertility rate (healthy) &

low infant mortality rate (20-25%)

Characterized by large (& nuclear) families (7-9 children)

Naming reflected cultural & religious values

Childrearing Practices

Childrearing Practices

Childbirth & newborn care same as 17th century Europe

Home childbirth by midwivesPuritans valued breastfeeding

(9 passages in bible favor it!)Illegitimacy: great offense

against god

Childbirth & newborn care same as 17th century Europe

Home childbirth by midwivesPuritans valued breastfeeding

(9 passages in bible favor it!)Illegitimacy: great offense

against god

Childrearing: Transition at Age 7

Childrearing: Transition at Age 7

Influenced by notion of original sinEx: Isaac watts (1715) book for

children“That I am led to see, I can do nothing

well, and whither shall a sinner flee, to save himself from hell.”

Obedience to the will and authority of parents

Church threatened children with eternal damnation

Influenced by notion of original sinEx: Isaac watts (1715) book for

children“That I am led to see, I can do nothing

well, and whither shall a sinner flee, to save himself from hell.”

Obedience to the will and authority of parents

Church threatened children with eternal damnation

How Parents Regarded Their

Children (17th Century)

How Parents Regarded Their

Children (17th Century)Referred to developmental

stages & child’s play7% of diarists mentioned

child’s sinful nature (out of concern for child!)

Three childrearing modes: EvangelicalModerateGenteel

Referred to developmental stages & child’s play

7% of diarists mentioned child’s sinful nature (out of concern for child!)

Three childrearing modes: EvangelicalModerateGenteel

How Parents Regarded the

Parental Role (17th century)

How Parents Regarded the

Parental Role (17th century)Same behavior could be

result of different attitudeProtective functionDisciplineAdvisingTraining

Same behavior could be result of different attitude

Protective functionDisciplineAdvisingTraining

A day in the life of children . . .

A day in the life of children . . .

Farm work for boys beginning at age 5

Girls helped with spinning/sewingPunished for laughing on the

Sabbath dayRunning, whistling, humming

considered sinful any dayParents developed “Sunday toys”

Farm work for boys beginning at age 5

Girls helped with spinning/sewingPunished for laughing on the

Sabbath dayRunning, whistling, humming

considered sinful any dayParents developed “Sunday toys”

EducationEducation

Dame schools: 1628, form of daycare

Public school: required by law (except RI) and free

Taxation of parents

Dame schools: 1628, form of daycare

Public school: required by law (except RI) and free

Taxation of parents