History Module 2.3 Puritan Culture and Legacies

What is the significance of the Laws and Liberties issued by the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s government?

Explained to the colonists their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Citizens couldn’t be punished without due process of law.

Explain how some of the Puritan’s views about the Sabbath (Sunday) are still evident in American culture:

Can’t buy a car on Sundays in some states. Some stores close earlier in certain states. Hunting laws about Sundays as well.

Explain the Puritans’ perspective on religious freedom":

Banned Catholic Baptists. Believed that allowing freedom would cause disunity and society would fall apart.

In what ways is American culture and life influenced by the Puritans today?

Work ethics, blue laws, importance of education- Puritans founded public schools and Harvard, reading and writing, working together, written laws, people’s rights.

The Bible/Covenant Community:

Agreement. Agreed to live according to the bible. Ministers were not political figures, but more so moral guardians. You could be ex-communicated if you didn’t listen - essentially shunned.

What are blue laws?

Prohibit doing certain things on Sundays.

Puritan Government:

NOT a theocracy. Ministers had no political authority.

Puritan Morality:

Church. Alcohol on Sunday. Reduced store hours. Blue laws.

Puritan views of the Sabbath:

Highly regulated. Day of worship and prayer. There would be two three hour long services. Evening meditations.

Puritans and Leisure:

Reading. Gambling was forbidden. They played stool ball, shooting games, Ninepins- like bowling, Pitching the bar- log throwing, sledding- “coasting”. Despised theater thought it was “service to Satan”. Enjoyed Flip which is beer with pumpkin or molasses and they would put a hot piece of metal in it to make it taste burnt.

Tithing Men:

Snoopers, watched about 10 families. If you did something you weren’t supposed to they would report you.

Anne Hutchison:

Arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 with her 12 kids following her favorite preacher John Cotton. She would discuss his sermons at her house. John Winthrop didn’t like that Anne was talking to men, he also didn’t like that Anne was saying that God spoke to her directly. In 1638 the Church of Boston cast Anne out- banished her. She went to Rhode Island and then the Netherlands where she was killed by Indians (it wasn’t personal, just wrong place at wrong time).

Roger Williams:

Puritan minister. Critical of Puritan lifestyle. Said Massachusetts Puritans were not truly pure because they had not separated from the Church of England and still hoped to reform it. He believed forcing attendance to church was wrong and taking land from Indians was a national sin. Banned from Massachusetts Bay Colony. He believed everyone should worship how they wanted to.

King Phillip’s War (Metacom’s War):

1675 to 1676. Metacom/King Phillip started the war. As the English population grew they kept pushing Indians out further west. Desperate reaction against English crowding inland. Christian converted Native Americans fought against other Native Americans. Indian allies ended up killing Metacom/King Phillip.