New England Colonies US History Rise of Puritanism

New England Colonies US History

Rise of Puritanism Protestant sect Influenced by John Calvin (Calvinism) God is all powerful and all-good Humans are weak and wicked Predestination (God’s elect) Good works are not enough

Mayflower 1620 102 persons (men, women, children) Less than half were Separatists (wanted complete Separation from Church of England) Came seeking religious freedom (not really)

Mayflower Compact First Democratic Document in New World Adult male (free, Puritan) settlers assembled to make laws and conduct open-discussion town meetings (direct democracy) Majority rule among settlers

Plymouth had been an Amerindian community that had been ravaged by a great plague just a few years earlier. outside jurisdiction of Virginia Company Settlers thus became squatters: no legal right to land no recognized gov’t (thus, never gained charter from the crown) – thus became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony

John Winthrop Governor Covenant Theology: believed Puritans had a covenant with God to lead new religious experiment in New World Wrote "We shall build a city upon a hill" in A Model of Christian Charity as he was sailing to Massachusetts Bay

Plymouth Despite terrible first winter where over ½ the people died, no one left Plymouth Plantation.

Thanksgiving Autumn, 1621 An alliance formed by Pilgrims & Wampanoags for mutual protection against other Amerindian tribes. Peace lasted 41 years until Massasoit’s (leader of Wampanoags) death in 1662. Menu? Corn, deer, pigeon, eels, shellfish (lobster, clams, mussels), squash, chestnuts, walnuts no turkey, potatoes, desserts (no butter or wheat flour)

Success of the Pilgrims Developed economy of fur trade, fishing, and lumber. Religion remained central focus William Bradford: prominent leader; elected Governor 30 times (To encourage farming, he distributed land among the settlers. )

Religion & Politics in MBC Townhall meetings emerged as a staple of democracy all free, Puritan, male property holders Votes conducted by majority-rule (show of hands).

Religion & Politics in MBC New England became the least tolerant regarding religion Religious dissenters were punished

Religious Dissenters in MBC Roger Williams Thought colonists should have to pay Natives for land Believed in religious freedom Thought church and state should be separate Exiled by Puritans Founded Rhode Island as a haven for heretics

Religious Dissenters in MBC Anne Hutchinson: Held prayer meetings Thought anyone could speak to God Accused of heresy and brought to trial in 1638. She claimed direct revelation from God, even a higher heresy. banished from colony; set out for Rhode Island

Great Migration (1630 s) Turmoil in England resulted in almost 20, 000 immigrants coming to New England (60, 000 others scattered throughout North America & West Indies).

1691, the small Plymouth colony of 7, 000 people merged with the large Massachusetts Bay Colony. New England area is considered the LEAST diverse of the three

Salem Witch Trials A community centered on God, fearful of Satan, and fearful of many other aspects of life (disease, starvavtion, Native Americans) led Puritans to fear possible witches Salem Witch Trials