Transcript Puritans and Patriots - Westfield Washington Schools

Puritans
Early American Literature
An Emerging Nation
1620 - 1720
The Puritans: A Brief History
• Unable to express their religious
sentiments and tired of persecution, the
Puritans immigrated to New England in the
1620’s.
• They believed they were chosen by God to
create a new order in America.
• Massachusetts was soon settled as a
Puritan commonwealth.
Puritans
• In England many individuals believed that
the Church of England was too Catholic
and desired further separation.
• Viewed themselves as soldiers in a war
against Satan.
• Aim was to “purify” Christianity. Believed
that it could be reformed
from within, and
they were persecuted.
Puritan Beliefs
• Human history is a progression toward
fulfillment of God’s design on earth.
• God’s hand is present in every human
event.
• Rewards good, punishes bad
• Struggle with sin is a daily mission.
• Every detail is significant and
means something in God’s plan.
• Hard work, responsibility
and thrift are morally good.
Government under a Theocracy
• The Puritan Church, was proclaimed
the “governing body of the state.”
• Treason against God meant treason
against the state.
• The Puritan church held exclusive
control over the lives of the people.
• No pope, bishop or king has the right
to impose any law upon the soul.
• Success will come to one who is looked
upon favorably by God.
Puritan Beliefs
• Original Sin: All people,
including newborn children, are basically sinful.
• Every person inherits the sin of Adam and Eve, who
disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden
• Eternal Punishment: All wicked people will be
punished by being sent to hell, a place of fire and
torment where they will remain forever.
Puritan
Beliefs
"Fire and Brimstone in Hell", a book
by a Puritan minister (1670). He
quotes :"Upon the wicked he shall
rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a
horrible tempest….
• Salvation through Grace: All people were
basically sinful and no one could be good
enough to deserve heaven. The only way a
person could get into heaven was through
God’s salvation through grace, given to
them despite what they actually deserved.
Puritan Beliefs
• Being “Born Again”: When a person
repented of his or her sins and accepted
God’s grace, the Puritans said that these
people were “born again.” That is, they had
given up their old life and started a new life
in Christ.
Puritan Beliefs
• Predestination: God knows, from the
beginning of time, who will go to hell
and who will go to heaven. A person’s
fate is already determined, or
predestined.
•
In 1637 Anne Hutchinson was banished
from Massachusetts for holding
religious meetings in her home. She
refused to stick closely to the rules of
Puritan worship.
Other Elements of Puritanism
• Only the “elect” would
be saved. Looked for
signs to show they
were elect.
• Heavy emphasis on
the word of God, the
Bible.
• Sermon was the
regular medium of
communication.
• Sermons
accompanied every
public event. Two
sermons on Sundays.
• Pure word of God &
transformation by
Holy Spirit.
Mob Mentality
• What makes people act as a mob?
• What are some of the results of mob action?
• What fuels a mob?
Salem Witch
Trials 1692
• Hysteria of a witchhunt ended with 20-25
people executed.
• First people accused
were social outcasts:
a slave, a homeless
beggar, sickly old
woman ( shown on right ).
•
Top photo shows "afflicted" girl fallen
on the floor in front of the judge’s
bench. Her accuser stands in front of
the judges holding her right hand over
her heart and gesturing upwards,
declaring her innocence before God.
Suspicion & Hysteria
• Trials were held &
women were stripped
to check for the mark
of the devil.
• Church members
claimed to have seen
the witch’s spirit
performing witchcraft.
• No one was safe.
Spectral Evidence
• The accused in the Salem witch trials were prosecuted on
"spectral evidence." They believed the devil has the power
to create images or impressions of figures in order to
afflict people and to lead them astray. English courts
refused to prosecute capital offenses on the basis of
"spectral evidence" only. That was not the case in New
England. During the witch trials the accused girls claimed
that various people of Salem had appeared to them to lead
them into witchcraft and to cast spells upon them.
Furthermore, they claimed to see "specters“ (a black cat,
wolf, bird) even in the courtroom. The magistrates
accepted such evidence as admissible for judgment and
sentencing.
Puritan Writing- Plain Style
• Puritans valued reason, logic, clarity and order in
writing more than elaborate words. One Puritan
writer compared this idea to stained glass
windows. “The paint upon the glass may feed the
fancy, but the room is not lighted by it.” Much of
American literature is direct, powerful and plain
due to the Puritans. It uses simple sentences and
everyday language. There is little imagery.
• Bradford writes in Of Plymouth Plantation, “It was
granted the dangers were great, but not
desperate. The difficulties were many, but not
invincible.”
The Crucible (What does it mean?)