Puritan Society in New England

In the seventeenth century, New England Puritans tried to create a model society.  What were their aspirations, and to what extent were those aspirations fulfilled prior to 1756?

Theory of American Exceptionalism?

What was more important, Liberty or Order? What was the impact of the Great Awakening on the colonies?  Did Democracy occur in religion prior to government in the colonies? 

I. Introduction

  • The aspirations of New England Puritans to create a model society prior to 1756.

  • Discussion on American Exceptionalism, Liberty vs. Order, and the impact of the Great Awakening.

  • American Exceptionalism: The belief that the U.S. is a unique model for freedom and democracy.

  • Puritans' Vision: A 'City upon a Hill' as a beacon of moral and communal harmony.

  • Tension of Liberty vs. Order:

    • Desired individual freedoms but prioritized societal order.

    • Established a theocratic society with strict rules.

    • Persecuted dissenters for not conforming to established norms.

    • Legacy: Influences ongoing debates about individual rights and societal cohesion in America today.

II. Historical Context

  • The Church of England

    • Established by Henry VIII to assert authority over religious matters in England.

    • Puritans and Pilgrims sought to reform the church towards genuine Christianity.

  • Protestant Reformation:

    • A religious movement in the 16th century aimed at reforming the Catholic Church’s practices and beliefs.

    • Led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations and increased calls for personal faith in Christianity.

    • Inspired the Puritans, who sought to purify the Church of England from remaining Catholic influences and ensure a form of worship aligned with their interpretations of the Bible.

III. The Virginia Company vs. Massachusetts Colony

  • The Virginia Company

    • A joint-stock company established to fund the English colonization of North America.

    • Was originally going to move the pilgrims to Virginia but landed in Plymouth- had to self govern

    • Focused on profit, agriculture, and exploitation of resources.

    • Significance: Paved the way for the initial settlements in the New World, influencing future colonial competition.

  • Pilgrims and the Mayflower

    • Pilgrims traveled on the Mayflower in 1620 seeking religious freedom.

    • Established Plymouth Colony, emphasizing self-governance, via the Mayflower Compact.

    • Significance: Set a precedent for self-governance in America and the notion of community-based decision making.

  • Massachusetts Colony (Puritans)

    • Established in 1628 by the Puritans who absorbed the earlier Pilgrim society.

    • Funded by the Massachusetts Bay Company

    • Focused on creating a theocratic society strictly governed by their religious beliefs.

    • Significance: The unification of Pilgrim and Puritan societies established a foundational Puritan community intertwined with governance.

      Early Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony

IV. Puritan Beliefs

  • Key beliefs include:

    • Calvinism: The belief that humans are inherently evil and that it's only through God's grace that they can achieve salvation. All aspects of life must directly connect to God.

      • Significance: This belief instilled a sense of moral obligation in Puritans, driving them to live piously and attentively to their community's ethical environment.

    • Predestination: The concept that God determines the fate of individuals at birth, deciding who will be saved and who is doomed.

      • Significance: Created anxiety among Puritans, leading them to pursue signs of their salvation through good works, thereby shaping a community culture of high moral standards.

    • Theocracy: A system of government where God is considered the supreme ruler; civil laws should reflect biblical laws.

      • Significance: This belief led to an intertwined relationship between church and state, where political authority was viewed as divinely sanctioned, reinforcing the Puritan social order.

    • Order vs. Liberty: Puritans prioritized societal order and communal governance over individual liberties.

      • Significance: This belief resulted in strict adherence to moral and religious codes, cultivating community cohesion at the expense of personal freedoms, thus influencing future American debates on individual rights.

    • Significance: Together, these beliefs shaped governance, community life, and moral expectations, laying groundwork for American values.

V. The City upon a Hill

  • Written by John Winthrop: Puritan Governor

    • Winthrop envisioned a society that exemplified Puritan values of unity, brotherly affection, and community sacrifice.

    • Included warnings about failure leading to shame and divine repercussions.

    • Significance: Became a lasting metaphor for American exceptionalism, influencing future notions of national identity.

VI. Role of Religion in Puritan Government

  • Laws based on religious doctrine, resulting in what were known as Blue Laws of Connecticut, emphasizing morality and biblically-oriented social order.

  • Voting and Laws:

    • Voting was restricted to male property owners who were church members, creating an exclusive system that favored Puritan values.

    • Significance: Established a unique governmental structure that combined religious and civil authority, influencing future democratic practices while simultaneously reflecting their intolerance.

VII. Intolerance and Dissent

  • Victims of Puritan Intolerance:

    • Quakers: Persecuted for their beliefs, including women's roles in religion and pacifism; many migrated to Rhode Island.

    • Connection to Roger Williams: Both Quakers and Williams advocated for separation of church and state.

      • Williams founded Rhode Island as a haven for religious dissenters seeking freedom from Puritan oppression.

      • Significance: The treatment of Quakers illustrates the limits of Puritan tolerance and reinforces the narrative of early American pluralism and the eventual valuing of individual liberties over enforced conformity.

A. Roger Williams

  • Advocated for separation of church and state, founding Rhode Island as a refuge for dissenters.

  • Treated Native Americans fairly, promoting cohabitation and respect.

  • Significance: Williams' vision laid groundwork for the principle of religious freedom in America and highlighted the importance of liberty, contrasting significantly with Puritan authoritarianism.

B. Anne Hutchinson

  • Challenged societal norms by holding home meetings discussing religion and advocating for "direct revelation."

  • Accused of heresy, leading to her banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

  • Significance: Hutchinson’s trial highlighted gender issues and the tension within the Puritan society regarding spiritual authority and individual interpretation.

C. Salem Witch Trials

  • A series of trials and executions marked by hysteria and questionable evidence (e.g., spectral evidence).

  • Reflected social tensions and conflicts between different social classes.

  • Significance: Demonstrated the dangers of unchecked religious fervor and social paranoia, leading to a decline in public trust in judicial processes.

VIII. Puritan Work Ethic

  • Emphasis on hard work, frugality, and devotion.

  • Created a strong economy based on disciplined labor and community support.

  • Significance: This ethos became a core American value, influencing future economic practices and attitudes towards labor.

IX. Education in Puritan Society

  • Overview: Valued as a means to ensure moral and religious instruction.

  • Public Schooling: The Old Deluder Satan Act of 1642 mandated that towns educate children, combating ignorance to ensure a literate populace capable of reading the Bible.

    • This act helped establish a foundation for public schooling in America, emphasizing the importance of education in society.

  • Harvard University: Founded in 1636 by the Puritans to train clergy and ensure religious instruction among leaders.

    • Significance: Established a legacy of valuing education in America, showcasing the Puritan commitment to literacy and moral instruction, critical for maintaining their social fabric and governance.

X. The 1st Great Awakening

  • Overview: Religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s emphasizing personal devotion and emotional religious experiences.

  • Key Figures:

    • George Whitefield: Charismatic preacher who emphasized personal faith over institutional dogma.

    • Jonathan Edwards: Known for powerful sermons stressing personal conversion and adherence to Puritan beliefs.

    • Benjamin Franklin: Influenced by ideas of individualism and practical morality.

  • Definitions:

    • Antinomianism: The idea that faith alone is sufficient for salvation, sidelining the law.

    • Deism: Belief in a rational God who doesn’t interfere in daily affairs.

  • Significance: Challenged established religious authority and contributed to revolutionary ideas about individual rights and democracy.

XI. How Puritans Reached Their Aspirations

  • Education: Harvard's foundation exemplified their commitment to education and training of clergy.

    • Resulted in improved literacy and moral instruction, further emphasizing the Puritan belief that knowledgeable individuals would uphold religious and social order.

    • Significance: Established a legacy of valuing education in American society as crucial for informed citizenship and community responsibility.

  • Community: Initially achieved through close-knit social structures, but tensions arose as populations grew.

    • Significance: While they started with strong community ties, the growth of population and diversity posed challenges to maintain cohesiveness.

  • Politics: Established strong political structures based on religious beliefs, but exclusive voting rights limited broader participation.

    • Significance: Laid the groundwork for American democratic ideals, despite the exclusionary practices of their time.

  • Religious Purity: Desired a society that adhered strictly to biblical teachings, yet resorted to intolerance.

    • Qualifier/Modifier: Achieved some level of religious purity in doctrine and governance but failed in execution due to persecution of dissenters, undermining their intended ideals of a harmonious society.