THE PURITAN MOVEMENT LATE SIXTEENTH AND EARLY SEVENTEENTH

THE PURITAN MOVEMENT LATE SIXTEENTH AND EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES

Puritan Goals �The movement was primarily religious, but due to the close ties in England between religion and government, it affected politics and society as well. �The Puritans immediate goal was to reform, or “purify, ” the Church of England by eliminating certain Roman Catholic traditions. �As protestants, the Puritans rejected the belief that divine authority is channeled though one particular person, such as a pope. �Instead they believed individuals had the power to receive spiritual enlightenment directly from the teachings of the bible.

Puritan Goals �Puritans also objected to the “top-to- bottom” structure of the national church, in which the king or queen appointed bishops, who, in turn selected local ministers. �Puritans wanted a bottom-to-top structure in which congregations chose their own ministers. �Puritans spread their vision through their writings—political pamphlets, books of religious instruction, and stirring sermons, which were published and widely read.

Conflict with the Monarchy �While Queen Elizabeth I and her successor King James I generally tolerated the Puritans, King Charles I, James’ son and successor, did not. �Charles angered Puritans, and moderate Protestants alike by supporting plans to restore some Roman Catholic traditions and strengthen the power of the bishops. �In response, some Puritans left England for America. �Those who stayed steadily gained power in Parliament.

Elizabeth I James I Charles II

A New Government �Political tension soon erupted into civil wars, and in 1649 the king was found guilty of treason and beheaded. �A new government, the Commonwealth, headed by the Puritan Oliver Cromwell, took over.

Puritan Influence �Once in power, the Puritans tried to make English society conform to their strict beliefs. �They forbade the celebration of Christmas and Easter. �They prohibited activities such as playing chess and dancing. �All public theaters were closed, and writers risked being censored unless their work supported the Puritan way of life.

Puritan Influence �Despite these restrictions, the Puritan era did produce enduring literature. �John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress was one of the most influential books of its time. �John Milton, best known today as the author of Paradise Lost, a masterpiece epic of poetry, wrote fiery pamphlets in support of the Puritan cause as well as pamphlets supporting religious and civil liberties.

End of the Commonwealth �The unpopular Commonwealth ended in 1660, when the monarchy was restored, but the Puritans left their mark. �Their religious and political beliefs influenced attitudes in both England America for centuries to come.