Dissent
Persecution
“A City on a Hill”
Puritans and Pilgrims

“Scrooby Separatists” – dissenters - go to Holland to
live a more “pure” life on the ship “Speedwell”.

Dutch influence pollutes their purity & they leave for
England again.

1620 they combine with Indentured Servants headed
for Virginia on the “Mayflower”, but are forced to land
at Plymouth, (now Massachusettes).
Mayflower Compact

No legal right to be in Massachusettes

Fellow travellers not all
as “pious” as the Pilgrims.
Concern they would not
follow the law of England.

Civil Government formed –
loyalty to the King.

Laws established by majority vote –
Landmark document of democratic government.
Persecuted Puritans

John Winthrop forms Joint Stock Company by a
“Royal Charter” – King’s authority to be in America

Massachussettes Bay Colony established with
about 1000 settlers, well planned & supplied.
A true Puritan community… A
City Upon a Hill…all in
England would want to imitate.
Life would center around the
church and its authority.
Church Controls Community

“Well ordered” families…God fearing citizens.

Close connection between church “elect” and
government officials who watched family life.

Property distributed by church.

Only church members and male property owners
could vote.
Dissenters in the Community

Roger Williams
Believed Natives should be
paid for land taken, and religious
freedom should be tolerated.
Founded Providence, Rhode Island
Anne Hutchinson
Believed people could interpret
the Bible for themselves & didn’t
need the church officials.
Native American Wars

Pequot Wars….King Phillip’s War

Constant disputes
over land and expansion

Basic misunderstanding
about land ownership

Mistrust resulted from
broken treaties & swindles

Bloody wars killed thousands