Puritans

1
Puritans

• Early American Literature
• An Emerging Nation
• 1620 - 1720

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The Puritans A Brief History

• Unable to express their religious sentiments and
  tired of persecution, the Puritans immigrated to
  New England in the 1620s.
• They believed they were chosen by God to create a
  new order in America.
• Massachusetts was soon settled as a Puritan
  commonwealth.

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Puritans

• In England many individuals believed that
• the Church of England was too Catholic
• and desired further separation.
• Viewed themselves as soldiers in a war
• against Satan.
• Aim was to purify Christianity. Believed
• that it could be reformed
• from within, and
• they were persecuted.

4
Puritan Beliefs

• Human history is a progression toward
• fulfillment of Gods design on earth.
• Gods hand is present in every human
• event.
• Rewards good, punishes bad
• Struggle with sin is a daily mission.
• Every detail is significant and
• means something in Gods plan.
• Hard work, responsibility
• and thrift are morally good.

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Government under a Theocracy

• The Puritan Church, was proclaimed
• the governing body of the state.
• Treason against God meant treason
• against the state.
• The Puritan church held exclusive
• control over the lives of the people.
• No pope, bishop or king has the right
• to impose any law upon the soul.
• Success will come to one who is looked upon
  favorably by God.

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Puritan Beliefs

• Original Sin All people,
• including newborn children, are basically
  sinful.
• Every person inherits the sin of Adam and Eve,
  who disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden
• Eternal Punishment All wicked people will be
  punished by being sent to hell, a place of fire
  and torment where they will remain forever.

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Puritan Beliefs
"Fire and Brimstone in Hell", a book by a Puritan
minister (1670). He quotes "Upon the wicked he
shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a
horrible tempest.

• Salvation through Grace All people were
  basically sinful and no one could be good enough
  to deserve heaven. The only way a person could
  get into heaven was through Gods salvation
  through grace, given to them despite what they
  actually deserved.

8
Puritan Beliefs

• Being Born Again When a person repented of
  his or her sins and accepted Gods grace, the
  Puritans said that these people were born
  again. That is, they had given up their old
  life and started a new life in Christ.

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Puritan Beliefs

• Predestination God knows, from the beginning of
  time, who will go to hell and who will go to
  heaven. A persons fate is already determined,
  or predestined.

• In 1637 Anne Hutchinson was banished from
  Massachusetts for holding religious meetings in
  her home. She refused to stick closely to the
  rules of Puritan worship.

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Other Elements of Puritanism

• Only the elect would be saved. Looked for
  signs to show they were elect.
• Heavy emphasis on the word of God, the Bible.

• Sermon was the regular medium of communication.
• Sermons accompanied every public event. Two
  sermons on Sundays.
• Pure word of God transformation by Holy Spirit.

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Mob Mentality

• What makes people act as a mob?
• What are some of the results of mob action?
• What fuels a mob?

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Salem Witch Trials 1692

• Hysteria of a witch-hunt ended with 20-25 people
  executed.
• First people accused were social outcasts a
  slave, a homeless beggar, sickly old woman (
  shown on right ).
• Top photo shows "afflicted" girl fallen on the
  floor in front of the judges bench. Her accuser
  stands in front of the judges holding her right
  hand over her heart and gesturing upwards,
  declaring her innocence before God.

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Suspicion Hysteria

• Trials were held women were stripped to check
  for the mark of the devil.
• Church members claimed to have seen the witchs
  spirit performing witchcraft.
• No one was safe.

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Spectral Evidence

• The accused in the Salem witch trials were
  prosecuted on "spectral evidence."  They believed
  the devil has the power to create images or
  impressions of figures in order to afflict people
  and to lead them astray.  English courts refused
  to prosecute capital offenses on the basis of
  "spectral evidence" only.  That was not the case
  in New England.  During the witch trials the
  accused girls claimed that various people of
  Salem had appeared to them to lead them into
  witchcraft and to cast spells upon them.
  Furthermore, they claimed to see "specters (a
  black cat, wolf, bird) even in the courtroom. 
  The magistrates accepted such evidence as
  admissible for judgment and sentencing. 

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Puritan Writing- Plain Style

• Puritans valued reason, logic, clarity and order
  in writing more than elaborate words. One
  Puritan writer compared this idea to stained
  glass windows. The paint upon the glass may
  feed the fancy, but the room is not lighted by
  it. Much of American literature is direct,
  powerful and plain due to the Puritans. It uses
  simple sentences and everyday language. There is
  little imagery.
• Bradford writes in Of Plymouth Plantation, It
  was granted the dangers were great, but not
  desperate. The difficulties were many, but not
  invincible.

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The Crucible (What does it mean?)