New England Colonial Terms: Puritans, Jesuits, Salem Witch Trials

What was New France and its significance?

A French colony discovered on the way to Canada, characterized by land grabs and attempts at counter-reformation.

What was the Counter-Reformation?

A movement to push back against the Protestant Reformation, involving missionary work and the reform of Catholicism.

Who were the Jesuits?

Highly educated individuals who aimed to convert indigenous people to Catholicism.

What were the Puritans known for?

An extreme Protestant group that was hated by King James I.

What distinguishes Presbyterians from other Protestant groups?

They have a more traditional hierarchy and report to a larger governing body.

How do Congregationalists differ from Presbyterians?

Congregationalists are highly independent, with each congregation governing itself without a monarch or head.

What were the beliefs of the Separatists (Pilgrims)?

They believed the Church of England was too corrupt to reform and aimed to establish their own religious society in America, ending up in Massachusetts.

What was the Massachusetts Bay Company and its purpose?

Founded in 1629, it was a less radical wave of Puritans creating a social order rather than seeking profit.

Who was John Winthrop and what was his vision for Salem?

The first governor of Salem, he envisioned it as a 'city on a hill' focused on order and discipline.

What was the economic focus of New England?

Self-sufficiency, with churches creating social order.

Who was Roger Williams and what did he criticize?

A minister who criticized religious authority and founded Rhode Island after being exiled.

What was the status of women referred to as 'Helpmeet'?

Women were seen as hardworking farm caretakers with little freedom or legal authority.

What were the Salem Witch Trials?

A series of events in 1692 where 19 people were executed on suspicion of witchcraft, primarily targeting independent women.