So what is a Puritan?

Some very religious people who wished to “purify” the church of England.

They came to America from 1630 - 1650 in what is known as the Great Migration.

So what do they believe in?

John Calvin

They believed in predestination.

You were already “saved” or you weren’t. !You had to figure it out, and later prove it. !This was referred to as your “conversion” experience.

There was a lot of tension being a Puritan.

John Winthrop

Wrote “A Model of Christian Charity” !The Puritans home in America would be a “city on a hill” !Today we call it Boston

The Puritans would be ruled by their ministers. They would be a theocracy.

Ministers and “visible saints” had all the power.

All legal issues and punishments would be determined by the Bible.

Puritans were very literate. They needed to read the Bible so they could figure out their salvation.

They also were encouraged to keep a journal as proof of their salvation.

Puritans would often be able to prove their conversion through a written narrative.

A typical Puritan narrative had the sequence of: removal

test restoration

Roger Williams Anne Hutchinson

So they all read the Bible and had to interpret it.

But what happens if your interpretation

is different? What if you dared to

disagree?

Easy they kicked you out.

Church membership depended upon a conversion experience.

Only the children of “the elect” could be baptized.

Now the children and grandchildren of the first settlers would have some religious privileges.

The Half Way Covenant was created to battle less religious beliefs and people becoming too worldly.

So what happens when things really get out of hand?

Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692

You get rid of the people you don’t like.

Puritans were supposed to be humble.

Wealthy Puritans were required to have some self control.

All Puritans had to practice temperance in meat and drink.

Most of the accused witches were just people who didn’t fit in.

A bad neighbor, a woman who had acquired wealth or was in a man’s role, were the usual targets.

The Great Awakening

The Rev. George Whitefield

A time of religious revival. Sermons were more “emotional.”

People were taught that “Good Works” would allow you to enter Heaven.

Jonathan Edwards; Author of “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”

The Great Awakening, was an attempt to salvage Puritan beliefs and practices. By 1742 it was just to late.

So what did they leave us? • Self government and community responsibility • Town democracy • The need for public education • Hard work and thrift • Focus on the family

Executed for Witchcraft

Bridget Bishop Rebecca Nurse

Sarah Good Eliz. Howe

Sarah Wildes Susanah Martin

George Burroughs Martha Carrier George Jacobs

John Procter John Willard Giles Corey

Martha Corey Mary Easty Alice Parker

Margaret Scott Wilmot Redd

Sameul Wordwell

Died awaiting trial: Sarah Osborne, Lyndia Dustin and Anne Foster.

http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/