Puritan New England Reformation and England • Split in Church: 1530 s. • Anglican Church— Catholic Church? • Catholic Kings: persecution of Puritans: 1603-­‐‑1642 • English Civil War: 1630-­‐‑1642, Puritans v. Royals (Cavaliers) Puritan Journey • First to Holland: 1608 • Holland=too wilde • Charter acquired to move on to Virginia. • William Bradford s history of Plimouth Plantation 1 The Landing • The glorious landing at Plymouth Rock • The most boring site in America . • Stats: only one died on the journey over… The Landing? • Landed in the wrong spot…aiming for Va. • Turned south, retreated due to storms. • They fell upon their knees and blessed the god of heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth William Bradford 1619 The Mayflower Compact • Purpose? • Significance? 2 Historical populations Date Pop. November, 1620 103 September, 1621 53 November, 1621 88 July, 1623 180 January, 1630 290 July, 1630 380 1643 2000 1690 3055 • Elected for 33 straight terms for Governor of the young colony. • Similar to John Smith in that his leadership had the ability to unify . • Formed early relationships with Native Americans. Plimoth (Plymouth) • Populated by a group of Separatists • Wanted to separate from the Anglican Church of England. 3 The landing New England Non-Separtists 1630 Separatists 1619 Relations with Natives • Squanto and Samoset pave the way for effective relations early. 4 First Thanksgiving The tide turns…Blue Laws • Native Cultures are encroached upon. • Sabbath a mandatory day of rest, other non-­‐‑Native traditions are outlawed. • 1623 5 Wealth and New England? • Unable to find wealth and in great economic hardship, their only tangible resource is corn and fish, the colonists of New England turn to Furs. • Beaver furs in particular were coveted by the English. The New England Way • A second wave of Puritans will arrive in 1630 under the leadership of John Winthrop. • 13,000 people emigrated to Massachusecs The Great Migration • Puritans flowed into the colonies in great quantities between 1630 and 1642. The result of massive persecution of Puritans in England. 6 City upon a hill • For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken ... we shall be made a story and a by-­‐‑word throughout the world. We shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God ... We shall shame the faces of many of God'ʹs worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us til we be consumed out of the good land whither we are going. Christian Charity • Puritans believed the wealthy had an obligation to support the poor. • Winthrop discussed this regularly in his sermons. Saints • Conversion relation • 1662: halfway covenant 7 New England Governance • All male saints could participate (30% of total, 55% of males) • Democracy?: Town Hall Meeting • Structure? Governor Town deputies Colonial Legislature Male Saints Education • In order to defeat the old Deluder Satan , Puritans believed literacy and bible study were crucial. • Each town of 50 needed at least 1 school/teacher. • The Boston School, founded 1650. 8 Training ministers • Harvard College founded 1636, to train ministers. Daily Life in New England • Importance of faith and church. Military • Every man from age 16-60 served. • Well defended fort 9 Fortified cities Typical Home Anne Hutchinson • Denied covenant of works promoted covenant of grace. • Believer of Calvin • Critical of ministers • Gender issues? • Didn t attend to her household affairs and such things that belong to a woman. 10 Roger Williams • Purged from Massachusetts Bay as a dissident. • Believed in separation of church and state (violated congregationalism) • Advocated fairness with Native Americans Thomas Hooker • Left on his own will to found Connecticut (Hartford) • Disagreed with Mass. Bay leaders on the ability/ right of all men to vote. • Contradicted congregationalism • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Native American Wars • Pequot War • Pondered taking Native Lands • Pointed to the plague of 1618 • Viewed as savages • Often treated as bad as Spanish treated groups and Nathaniel Bacon treated Powhatan. • Racism? 11 Pequot War Battle of Mystic River • Pequot farmers attacked English farmers • A Puritan militia responded with a massacred where 500 men, women, and children were burned alive. 12 King Phillips War • King Phillip a version of Opechcancanough and Pope • Military resistance only chance • Mass. Bay hired Mohawk and Mohegan fighters • Killed 1000 settlers (5% of population) • Devastating defeat for Natives. 13