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Puritans were English Protestants who wished to reform and purify the Church of England of what they considered to be unacceptable remains of Roman Catholicism. In the 160s leaders of the English state and church grew being heartless to Puritan demands. They insisted that the Puritans conform to religious practices that they hated, removing their ministers from office and threatening them with" extirpation from the earth if they did not follow their rules. Passionate Puritan laymen received savage punishments. For example, in 160 a man was sentenced to life imprisonment, his property was confiscated, his nose slit, his ear was cut off, and his forehead branded with "S.S." (Sower of Sedition).
Beginning in 160 as many as 0,000 Puritans immigrated to America from England to gain the liberty to worship God as they chose. Most settled in New England, but some went as far as the West Indies. The Puritans were "non-separating Congregationalists." Unlike the Pilgrims, who came to Massachusetts in 160, the Puritans believed that the Church of England was a true church, though it was in need of major improvement. Every New England Congregational church was considered an independent unit, grateful to no chain of command. The membership was composed initially of men and women who had undergone a change experience and could prove it to other members. Puritan leaders hoped that once their experiment was successful, England would imitate it by instituting a church order modeled after the New England Way.
The first groups came in the Mayflower and were included with the group called Pilgrims. Their religious principles set them apart as Puritans. They believed that the Bible was Gods true law and that it provided a plan for living. The established church of the day, described access to God as simple. Puritans stripped away the traditional trappings and formalities of Christianity, which had been slowly building throughout the previous 1500 years. This was an attempt to purify the church and their own lives.
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The Puritans were not a small group of people. In England many of their persuasion sat in Parliament. So great was the struggle that Englands Civil War pitted the Puritans against the Crown Forces. Though the Puritans won the fight with Oliver Cromwells leadership, their victory was short-lived. The witchcraft trials did not appropriately define their methods of living for one hundred or more years that they formed successful communities. What it did show was the danger that their self-imposed isolation had put them in.
Most of the Puritans settled in the New England area. As they immigrated and formed individual colonies, their numbers rose from 17,800 in 1640 to 106,000 in 1700. Religious exclusiveness was the primary principle of their society. The spiritual beliefs that they held were strong. This strength held over to include community laws and customs. Since God was at the front of their minds, they were to motivate all of their actions. This idea worked both for them and against them.
The common unity strengthened the community. In a foreign land surrounded with the hardships of pioneer life, their spiritual bond made them sympathetic to each others needs. Their overall survival techniques permeated the colonies and made them more successful in several areas beyond what the colonies established to their south.
Each church congregation was to be individually responsible to God, as was each person. The New Testament was their model and their devotion so great that it permeated their entire society. People of opposing theological views were asked to leave the community or to be converted.
Their interpretation of scriptures was a cruel one. They emphasized a redemptive goodness. In principle, they emphasized conversion and not repression. Conversion was a rejection of the worldliness of society and a strict devotion to Biblical principles. While repression was not encouraged in principle, it was evident in their actions. God could forgive anything, but man could forgive only by seeing a change in behavior. Actions spoke louder than words, so actions had to be constantly controlled.
The policy of predestination kept all Puritans constantly working to do well in this life to be chosen for the next eternal one. God had already chosen who would be in heaven or hell, and each believer had no way of knowing which group they were in. Those who were wealthy were obviously blessed by God and were in good standing with him. The protestant work ethic was the belief that hard work was an honor to God, which would lead to a prosperous reward. Any deviations from the normal way of Puritan life met with strict disapproval and discipline. Since the church elders were also political leaders, any church infraction was also a social one. There was no margin for error.
The devil was behind every evil deed. Words of torment flowed from the mouths of expressive ministers as they warned of the persuasiveness of the devils power. The sermons of Jonathan Edwards, a Puritan minister, show that delivery of these sermons became an art form. They were elegant well-formed scriptures with a healthy dose of fear woven throughout the fabric of the literary construction. Grammar children were quizzed on the material at school and at home. This constant subjection of the probability of an unseen danger led to a scandal of epidemic proportions.
In 1688, four young girls accused a laundry woman of "bewitching" them. What could have been stopped progressed into a community tragedy. The young women enjoyed the attention this story afforded them, but no doubt were afraid that their lies would be found out. In an effort to further interrupt their story, they lapsed into expanded convulsions. Those who were possessed by the devil were forced to make confessions of their evil deeds in order to protect their families and properties from harm. Those who denounced witchcraft (thereby calling the witnesses liars) were then accused themselves. In the frenzy to follow, by 160 two hundred persons were in jail, fifty in prison and twenty executed (along with dogs). Cotton Mather, a leader of the group, quietly led the way in bringing this crisis to an end. The devotion they held in maintaining a religious society in isolation fueled the fire of the witchcraft scandal.
Great pains were taken to warn their members and especially their children of the dangers of the world. Religiously motivated, they were exceptional in their time for their interest in the education of their children. Reading of the Bible was necessary to living a religious life. The education of the next generation was important to further purify the church and perfect social living. Three English diversions were banned in their New England colonies drama, religious music and erotic poetry. The first and last of these led to immorality. Music in worship created a dreamy state that was not conducive in listening to God.
For the first time in history, free schooling was offered for all children. Puritans formed the first formal school in 165, called the Roxbury Latin School. Four years later, the first American College was established which was Harvard in Cambridge. Children aged 6-8 attended a Dame school where the teacher, who was usually a widow, taught reading. Ciphering (math) and writing were low on the academic agenda.
In 168, the first printing press arrived. By 1700, Boston became the second largest publishing center of the English Empire. The Puritans were the first to write books for children, and to discuss the difficulties in communicating with them. At a time when other Americans were physically blazing trails through the forests, the Puritans efforts in areas of study were advancing our country intellectually.
The large number of people who attributed to the lifestyle of the Puritans did much to firmly establish a presence on American soil. Bound together, they established a community that maintained a healthy economy, established a school system, and focused an efficient eye on political concerns. Protestant churches of this century still ascribe to the simplicity of worship that they proposed back in 160 when they first set foot on the Mayflower. The moral character of England and America were shaped in part by the words and actions of this strong group of Christian believers.
When the first religious pilgrims came to the new world in 160, to Plymouth, Massachusetts on the Mayflower, it began a wave of such trips. America still had a forming tolerance level, and government, therefore still had plenty of time to be shaped by these
Initial settlers. They brought along their new ideas on religion and government. England, because they controlled these colonies, began to realize that toleration was needed. They then passed the Toleration Act in 168, which said that religious diversity was allowed. This however did not help the feeling of prejudice in England, forcing even more people out. One group that was still persecuted was the Quakers, lead by William Penn, they journeyed to America. When they set up their colony here, even Native Americans, and Catholics were welcome and friends with the Quakers. Their formal name was actually the Religious Society of Friends. This helped to instill this feeling of friendship into American societal beliefs. Puritans, and Separatists had been leaving England for years, and were not as tolerable as their Quaker counterparts. The Puritans, who were based mainly in Massachusetts, believed that their religious convictions were the only right way. They were not tolerant of other ways of thinking. Church and state were one, and clergy members lead the colonies. People were very conformed, and did not associate with the other colonies, religious or otherwise. They rarely met for any reason other than church, and were not known for having free time. This strong diversity between the colonies surprisingly did not create too much controversy but rather made America more tolerant in the long run. There was even a colonial toleration act, called the Maryland Toleration Act passed in 164 that was ahead of the British one, because of the need for it in the colonies more than in England. The governments of the new colonies in America were quite conflicting. The Quakers set up a democratic form of government in which everyone had rights that were protected. Good relations were made with the Native Americans. This included many peace treaties. The most famous of which was signed on June , 168, on the banks of the Delaware River, and stated that the colonists and Indians would live in love as long as the sun gave light. This was a revolutionary idea of this time of aristocracy and sovereignty. Quakers were well known for being very tolerable, and respectful of most lifestyles. The only exception to this was they not being very kind to Catholics, however they did allow them to live in their colonies. Banking, Insurance, and bookkeeping were emphasized, more than anything else, besides religion. However, religion was brought into state affairs. Monthly meetings that were to attend to colonial business were actually prayer services. This meant that there was not a strict separation of church and state, and in modern democracy. The Puritan government was one that was entirely based on the church. Everything was under constant supervision. They were easily manipulated because of conformity and punishment that was severe for sinners, as is demonstrated when the Puritans have the Salem witch scare that resulted in many hangings. Education was the highest stressed issue for the Puritans and banking was thought of as unimportant. Relations with the natives were not particularly good. Puritans tried to avoid contact with these strange new people, as much as possible. A Puritan government was not particularly tolerant, and was more like a ladder because of extensive clergy involvement in everyday life. Though governmentally, the Quakers appeared to be right, Puritans were much more advanced, educationally. Quakers did not stress education, at all. They believed that all you needed to know could be taught through the church, and scripture. They believed that few could read the scripture. They did not see the point in educating the people when all that was needed to know was in the bible and in sermons. They only relied on inspiration and impulsiveness for guidance. This idea did not carry through for long. Eventually the Quakers determined that in order to be an effective society, people had to be educated. This lead to the creation of schools and Universities under the Quaker faith. The first of which was simply a primary and secondary school called the Friends' School. Eventually, Universities were created in and around Philadelphia. Puritans had been educating since they came to the new world. They believed that education was very important, so that children could grow up reading and understanding the bible. There had always been schools in Puritan colonies, and in rural areas they had tutors for their children. Puritans also began to open their own Universities, such as Harvard, and Yale. Education remained strictly religious until after the American Revolution. This educational importance that was espoused by the Puritans began to shape the education of the entire country. In 1647, and 1650, Massachusetts, and Connecticut passed laws mandating the education of children. They said that if a parent did not enroll their child in school then a businessman could automatically take the child into their custody. Free education was being offered in many places in order to promote learning about the bible and going into the ministry. By 1700, 70% of men, and 45% of women could read and write in America, which was an incredible statistic. This also increased the number of missionaries in America, because of the increase in educated people. The only real conflict that occurred in the new world was with Native Americans and the occasional argue was within a colony. The Native American's were not even a very large threat yet, because expansion had not reached its peak.
Thanks to the tolerable feeling of the Quaker colonies, and the enclosed feeling of the Puritan colonies, America remained a very peaceful place to live. America has picked up many of these original colonial ideas. The Puritans especially helped to form our modern day theories and standards for education. They began the first educational establishments in this country and introduced the strict discipline needed to succeed in learning. Many of their schools, such as Harvard, are still in use and are very respected. The Quakers too had a direct impact on current American society. Their tolerant ideas helped to spread the ideals of America. This country was built on tolerance, and democracy. Our Constitution was drawn up with these ideas, and the reason so many people came to the new world was because of the political situation here and its benefits. Also because of their respect for other religions and races, America was built on good values. By coming to the new world because of injustice, the original American colonists helped to create a new country that was religiously, socially diverse, and politically accepting. The injustice that they endured helped to insure that America would not be like that. The original settlers to America helped to shape the way we are today, and the way we are going to be in the future. The ideals they stressed and fought for freedom have been kept with us all and formed The United States in a democratic and tolerable way.
The clearest history of their journey to the New World is found in History of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford (c. 150-1657). It was written about 160. This book tells of the Puritans difficulties with the Indians, the first deadly winter when half the
People died and about their initial successes. The history is written in the Puritans "plain style" of writing. The language is often difficult for us to read today, but it is still much easier than the "ornate style" used by most officials then. Though the earliest Puritans only used the plain style, it has survived in other American writers.
The Puritans had several kinds of literature. By far the most common form is the writing related to Biblical teachings, or sermons, that the church leaders wrote. The Puritans believed that they were in the New World because God had brought them there for a special purpose. They thought that by studying the Bible they could learn more about this way of life. The Puritans went to church regularly to study more about the Bible. The church leaders would speak about the meaning of life in the New World and would give an interpretation from the Bible. Some of their sermons have survived to this day. The most celebrated one is by Jonathan Edwards (170-1758), Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (17). In this sermon, Edwards talks about Gods kindness even though he has a right to be angry with man.
One of the most significant poets from this period was Anne Bradstreet (c.161-167). Her book of poetry, Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up In America (1650), was the first book of New World poems published in England. Bradstreet used the plain style of writing that is typical of many early Puritan writers. Her poems are about simple living and about faith in the Puritan way of life. Many of her poems are about her family. One poem talks about the love she had for her husband and his love for her. Another Bradstreet poem tells of an accident on July 10, 1666, the burning of her house. In all her poems, however, she shows her strong belief in God.
Known as the best writer of the Puritan times, Taylors works were not published until 1. A minister for sixty years, Taylors poetry captures the attitudes of the second generation of Puritans in its importance on self-examination. Particularly in an individuals
relations to God. A good edition of Taylors poetry is The Poems of Edward Taylor.
Samuel Sewall was a representative of a new breed of Puritans who took more
interest in secular matters, for example, business, politics, and good living. Sewall kept a diary for almost fifty-seven years (167-17). It was an excellent indicator of the manners and civilization of his time. A good edition is The Diary of Samuel Sewall.
One of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop arrived in 160 aboard the flagship Arbella. As governor of the Colony, he established the center of government at Boston. Winthrop began writing his Journal in 160 and continued it till his death. On board the Arbella, he also prepared his famous sermon A Model of Christian Charity.
Michael Wigglesworth, a minister, Wigglesworth is today remembered for two works The Day of Doom and Gods Controversy with New England (written in 166 but published more than two hundred years later). The first book is known as the first American bestseller. It contains an expression of the basic Puritan beliefs described earlier.
Cotton Mather, a member of the powerful Mather family. Cotton Mather produced 444 volumes of written work. Although his writing is educational, moralistic, and filled with references to the Bible, it reveals important information on the history and society of his time. His best-known work is the Magnalia Christi Americana, which gives an insight into
Mathers views on Puritan society. A good edition of his works is Selections from Cotton Mather.
The Puritan settlements put special faith in the power of the printed word. Especially in its capacity to inform, reform, and literally save the community and the individual. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 160; within a decade the colony had established a college for the training of ministers, acquired a printing press, and began pouring out a steady stream of texts. First an almanac, then devotional verses and sermons by local churchmen. From a modern perspective, one distinguishing quality of writing from the Puritan era its poetry, its historical chronicles, its meditative and devotional prose is its concern with achieving and sustaining an absolute integrity within ones' self, a condition in which the word, the public deed, the private thought, act, and the deeply held system of belief would show no discord, no hypocrisy. Discontinuity would signify a fallen or unrealistically state and grounds for grave concern. When Anne Bradstreet grieves for the home and the worldly goods lost in The Burning of Our House, she chides herself for pettiness and greed that makes her anger seem real. In her elegies for her grandchildren she is struggling harder to reconcile herself to Divine Justice and the hard to make out ways of providence. In Edward Taylors Upon Wedlock, Let by Rain, Huswifery, and other poems about ordinary experience, the details, and pleasures. Quarrels within a person are acknowledged and expressively voiced. But the quarrels must still be settled, the reservations, doubts, and internal insurrections put to rest, if a person is to achieve a state of grace. How different this idea seems from modern ideas of identity in which unresolved confusion and elements of foolishness are often celebrated as the true self, the confusion that makes us credibly human. In contrast to these Puritan voices, Franklin can seem much more modern, when he encounters a contradiction in his thinking or a fault in his nature. It is usually a practical one having to do with his efficiency or his interactions with his fellow citizens. He practically sets out to correct it; and if his success is incomplete, he seems unfazed.
The puritans viewed and celebrated man as an individual, a God-created being. Sinful, yes, but with inherent worth. This presented a direct challenge too much of medieval teaching and was crucial to the success of American Democracy. No one can deny the Puritan contribution on that score. The Mayflower Compact, formed aboard the famous ship to establish civil government for the good of that early colony, was a fundamental document in the development of limited, constitutional government in America. The Puritans gave us a legacy of regular elections, the secret ballot, the federalist principle and even the beginnings of the separation of church and state largely to protect a religious people from government violation. Most important, the Puritans loved God, and incorporated worship of him into the very our daily lives. This allowed the Puritans to be brave in the New World and remain faithful during the most difficult hardships. Of course, the Puritans had their faults. However, the Puritans intellectual power came from mastery of the Bible and his moral power came from living the Bible. Perhaps this has something to do with the puritans having been so thoroughly put down in modern times.
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