Religious Dissenters

Key Terms

People

Thomas Hooker

John Cotton

Roger Williams

John Winthrop

Anne Hutchinson

Terms

Fundamental orders of Connecticut

Puritans

Hartford

Charter

Antinomianism

Thomas Hooker: The Father of American Democracy (1586-1647)

Thomas Hooker was born of Puritan parents in the county of Leicestershire in 1586.

Leader of universal Christian suffrage

As a University student he studied first at Queens College, Cambridge, but was later given a scholarship to Emmanuel College.

He, along with countless others immigrated to the New World for religious freedom. Thomas Hooker arrived in Massachusetts in 1633.

Thomas Hooker died during an epidemical sickness in 1647, at the age of 61.

Thomas Hooker: Ideas

Thomas Hooker had no objections against the religious teachings of the church.

He believed in the idea that all men should have a voice and vote, not just church members.

Thomas Hooker: Danger to MA Bay

Voting in Massachusetts was limited to freemen.

Hooker disagreed with this limitation of suffrage, which put him at odds with the influential pastor John Cotton.

Owing to his conflict with Cotton and discontented with the suppression of Puritan-suffrage and at odds with the colony leadership, Hooker along with a hundred others left Massachusetts Bay and found the settlement of Hartford in 1936.

Thomas Hooker: The Connecticut Colony

Hartford became the center of the Connecticut Colony.

Religiously, it mirrored Massachusetts Bay, however politically, it allowed more freedom for non-church members.

Thomas Hooker: The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Sometimes called the first written constitution.

The Orders provided for election of a governor and six magistrates. This body had lawmaking, executive, and judicial power. 

Roger Williams

Born in 1603 to James and Alice Williams.

Grew up a Puritan.

Left England in 1630.

Arrived in Boston in 1631

Roger Williams: Beliefs

Religious freedom.

Didn’t approve taking land away from the Native Americans.

Separation of church and state.

Roger William: Outcast

Put on trial in 1635.

Banished.

Bought land.

Started a new colony in present day Rhode Island.

Rhode Island

Established Providence.

Derived from “Rogue Island”.

Based on religious toleration, separation of church and state, and political democracy.

Founded the first Baptist Church.

Anne Hutchinson

Born in Alford, England

Father was imprisoned for criticism towards English church ministers

Became interested to John Cotton’s teachings and preaching of Puritanism

1634 - Followed Cotton and left England to practice Puritanism freely in New England

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Boston was mainly dominated by the Puritan community

Anne began her women’s group that discussed church sermons

Then, she started talking about her different beliefs

Beliefs: salvation is received by grace and inner experience. She was against their idea of works or deeds for the church.

Effect of Anne’s Meetings

John Winthrop became governor and Anne’s followers began to decline

Questioning the church = questioning the state

Anne’s ideas were known as Antinomianism

Antinomianism: belief that Christians are not bound by moral law

In November 1637, Winthrop filed charges against Anne

Aftermath

Anne’s trial – jury found her guilty after she stated that God physically spoke to her. Her punishment was banishment

Anne and her husband left to Roger Williams’ colony in Providence, Rhode Island

Sources

http://www.ushistory.org/us/3f.asp http://digitalpuritan.net/thomas-hooker/ http://www.britannia.com/bios/hooker.html http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h544.html http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educator-resources/americapedia/americapedia-documents/orders-of-connecticut/ http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_williams_1.html http://www.rogerwilliams.org/biography.htm http://www.landofthebrave.info/roger-williams.htm http://www.history.com/topics/roger-williams http://www.history.com/topics/anne-hutchinson http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/277653/Anne-Hutchinson http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h577.html