The Settlement of

New EnglandThe Mayflower, the Puritans, and the “City Upon a Hill”

Virginia to New Virginia to New EnglandEngland

Transition– Transition–

•Alongside the development of Virginia, New England was also seeing new settlers and facing new challenges.

•The Separatists of England seek refuge in the new world—they would lay the foundation for the future of the New England colonies.

SeparationSeparation• In the 1530s, King Henry VIII

separated from the Roman Catholic Church and created the Church of England.

• Puritans, despite this huge change, felt that the Church of England was still too similar to the Catholic Church.

• “Puritan”- wanted to “purify” their faith by ridding themselves of any trace of Catholicism.

PuritanismPuritanism• “Priesthood of all believers”-

every worshipper should experience God directly through faith, prayer, and study of the Bible.– One on one experience with God.– Personal responsibility– Experience their own faith first hand

• Churches held the power to fire ministers

• Each Puritan must be well versed in the Bible

PuritanismPuritanism• Two types of Puritans:

1) Those who wished to “fix” and change the Church of England

2) Those who wished to separate and form their own faith

•“Separatists”- had to meet in private so as not to feel the wrath of King James I

PilgrimsPilgrims• One specific congregation of

Separatists, the “Pilgrims” decided to flee England for fear of religious persecution.

• Landed in Holland, migrated to America

• Aimed for Virginia, landed in New England.

• 1620- Plymouth Colony (2nd permanent English colony in North America)

PilgrimsPilgrims• Aimed for Virginia, The Mayflower

strayed off course to Cape Cod.

• Pilgrims are very religious…what if non-Pilgrims challenge our rights and authority?– Sign the Mayflower Compact, an

agreement which created a government and pledged loyalty to the King.

– Laws approved by the majority would be binding on Pilgrims and non-Pilgrims.

– First document of self-government in America.

The Massachusetts Bay The Massachusetts Bay ColonyColony• Other Puritans (not Separatists)

wanted to come to America due to:– Religious persecution– Political repression– Poor economic conditions

• John Winthrop obtains a royal charter for a joint-stock enterprise, “The Massachusetts Bay Company”

• Winthrop states their purpose: “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us.”– They were to be an example for the

rest of the world in “rightful living”

The Massachusetts Bay The Massachusetts Bay ColonyColony

• Charter included a land grant and provisions for a self-run government.

• When the Puritans migrated, they would be able to form their own government.

• “Great Migration” beginning in 1630:– 17 ships– Over 1,000 Englishmen– Ample Provisions– Only items to establish good farms and

villages– No exotic cash crops

The Massachusetts Bay The Massachusetts Bay ColonyColony

• Experienced no starving time

• “Great Migration” continues…– Colony’s success allowed for

20,000 people between 1630 and 1640.

• Boston quickly becomes the thriving port city and capital

““City Upon a Hill”City Upon a Hill”

• Puritans wished to create a moral society that would help others follow God.

• “Holy commonwealth”– Work together– Uphold Christian principles– Does not believe in social equality

• God created classes of poor and wealthy

““City Upon a Hill”City Upon a Hill”

• As this self-government grew, church and state began to weave together.– Taxes supported Puritan church– Laws required church attendance– Criminalized:

• Drunkenness• Swearing• Theft• Idleness- Puritan work ethic helped

the colony to thrive

Legacy of the PuritansLegacy of the Puritans1. Planted the seeds of Democracy

– Dissenters (Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson)– “Priesthood of the Believer”= individualism,

freedom of conscience, self-government in both church and state

2. Free, public education– 1640s- established a tax-supported public education

system (not until 1830s in other parts of America)– Free and available to all– Emphasized intellect as well as emotion in their faith

• Education was a means to understand the Bible

3. Work Ethic– Industry + virtue + frugality = SUCCESS!

• Industry- work hard at your calling• Virtue- be honest, maintain good conduct• Frugality- spend money not on yourself, but on charity

Although the Puritans left England because they were

unable to practice their religion freely, when they came to America, they did

not allow religious freedom in their colony.

Can we rationalize/justify this decision using our knowledge of Puritan life?

Recall: Primary Recall: Primary Source PacketSource Packet

• Document 1: The Mayflower Compact• Document 2: John Winthrop’s City

Upon a Hill• Document 3: The Old Deluder Act

SUMMARIZE:SUMMARIZE:How does each document fit into the How does each document fit into the

larger picture of colonization in New larger picture of colonization in New England?England?