The Puritans
Directions: Read through the
notes. Be ready for a quiz on
Friday.
Who were the Puritans?
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Puritans were a branch of the Protestant
church
Their movement began in the 16th and 17th
centuries
Although they preferred to be called “the
godly,” they were given the name
“Puritans” for their struggle to reform or
purify the Church of England
Two Types of Puritans:
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Separatists (Pilgrims)
Held irreconcilable differences
with the Church of England;
they thought the church was
corrupt and that they must
distance themselves from it
Were persecuted under various
monarchies in England
First fled from England to
Holland
Later, came to found the
Plymouth Colony in America
in 1620
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Non-Separatists (Puritans)
Held less extreme views of the
Church of England
Believed in church reform
rather than an overthrow of
the church
Came to America in 1630 and
founded the Massachusetts
Bay Colony
Puritans
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"Reformers" or "Purifiers" (dissenting but non-separating)
Saw the hope or possibility of reforming the national church
from within
Left England straight to America
Received some help from the Church of England
Landed near present-day Boston and founded the
Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630
John Winthrop -- well-known governor and historian/writer
Troublemakers" -- Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson
Pilgrims
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"Separatists" from the Church of England
Saw no hope of reforming the national church from
within
Left England, first for Holland, then to America
Received no help from the Church of England
Landed at Cape Cod and founded the Plymouth
Plantation in 1620
William Bradford -- well-known governor and
historian/writer
"Troublemaker" -- Thomas Morton
Doctrine of Election /
Predestination:
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Man is innately sinful;
original sin means that
we are incapable of any
depravity
Only those who are
chosen by God (the elect)
are saved; salvation is not
based on your beliefs or
good works
The grace of Christ allows
the chosen the strength to
follow the will of God
The chosen will follow the
path of righteousness
Predestination continued…
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No one knew who was or was
not saved.
Puritans believed that you
must have a conversion
experience in order to be
accepted by God.
God’s grace was given to the
chosen, and this grace was
demonstrated through one’s
behavior.
Puritans would, therefore,
reflect upon themselves (selfexamination) for signs of this
grace.
So, even though they did not
believe good works helped one
get into heaven, they believed
that living a godly life was
evidence of being chosen.
As a result of their belief in
predestination, Puritans:
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Were always looking for
signs
Scrutinized daily events
Thought there was always
a reason for everything
Felt that God’s hand was
in everything, no matter
how insignificant
Puritan Beliefs & Values:
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Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible
They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, as
opposed to church doctrines
They did not believe in excess worship; they wanted no
rituals, adornments, no stained glass, no cushioned
pews, no singing, and no music
They wanted to keep things simple so that they could
concentrate on God
There is a constant struggle between the forces of God
and Satan
God rewards the good and punishes the wicked
Education & Work Ethic:
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They believed in living a virtuous,
self-examined life
They believed in strict discipline
and had a strong work ethic
They felt that qualities that led to
economic success were virtuous
They valued education
Harvard was founded in 1636 to
train ministers
They wanted their children to get
far away from the evils of England
Children were not allowed to play
games; boys were taught to go
hunting and fishing, while girls
were taught how to run a household
Women were considered less
capable intellectually, physically,
theologically, and morally (Eve was
the first sinner)
Literature for pleasure was highly
censored
Puritan Literature & Writings:
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They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. One
reason was the fact that they were struggling to built
their settlement. Another reason was the fact that they
considered works of fiction frivolous and possibly
immoral.
Types of texts:
- historical documents: preserving their history and
offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over
leaving relatives behind in England
- personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/
examination and as a way to look for signs of salvation
- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs
- religious tracts
Puritan Plain Style:
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Plain Style: a mode of expression characterized
by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness,
simplicity, and lack of ornamentation.
In early America, the plain style aesthetic had
broad cultural relevance, shaping the language of
prose and poetry, the design of furniture and
architecture, painting and other visual arts.
Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous
decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked
to glorify God in their expressions rather than to
show off their own artistry or claim any renown
for themselves.
This aesthetic appealed to both Puritans and
Quakers.