The
Puritans
In 1630 the Puritans migrate to America
(legally). Because they had more money and
resources with them.
When the Puritans settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630,
they arrived in 17 ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers. They
came with money and resources and divinely ordained arrogance.
Just 10 years later, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was a Puritan
stronghold of 20,000, while humble Plymouth was home to just
2,600 Pilgrims. Plymouth was fully swallowed up by Mass Bay just
a few decades later. (History.com)
Pilgrims were also more
accepting to Native
Americans (Because if they
weren’t they would’ve
starved to death), while the
Puritans were not accepting
of Native Americans (or
anyone that wasn’t them).
Religious Freedom???
The Puritans explicitly rejected the
Pilgrims religious freedom. They mostly
wanted anyone of any other religions to
live their lives but apart and with no
interaction with their community.
Nathaniel Ward, a Puritan clergyman
summed this up saying:
"I dare take upon me, to be the herald of
New England so far, as to proclaim to the
world, in the name of the colony, that all
Familists, Antinomians, Anabaptists, and
other enthusiasts shall have free liberty to
keep away from us, and such as will come
to be gone as fast as they can, the sooner
the better."
Puritan
Puritans are seen as extremely strict (even for their time) and their
Punishment
punishments were quite severe, often even including banishment from
the community.
One Puritan punishment was putting
people in stocks, which meant placing
boards around the ankles and/or wrists.
Passersby were free to insult the offenders,
kick them or even take off their shoes and
tickle their feet.
Puritan Laws
•Those who missed church regularly were
fined
•If you had committed adultery you had to
wear a scarlet A
•It was illegal to wear lace (too fancy)
•Women were forbidden to show any ankle in
public
•No working on Sundays
•Men were not allowed to have long hair
•No Smoking in public
•No kissing in public (even if married)
•Young kids couldn’t date without parents
approval
•Children would be punished if crying in public
(crying out of fear of Hell was common
•Only 12 crimes carried with it the Death
Penalty these included blasphemy,
counterfeiting, and witchcraft.
Puritan Laws
Although Puritans were very strict a lot of our
democratic ideals came from them as well.
Puritan law recognized the principle that no one
should be deprived of life, liberty or property
without due process. They also explicitly limited
government power. Puritan law prohibited
unlawful search and seizure, double jeopardy and
compulsory self-incrimination. It also guaranteed
bail, grand jury indictment and trial by jury.
Puritan Church
On average Puritans would attend church services twice a week, each service
would take between 2-3 hours. The puritans were opposed to all distractions with
their houses of worship, including having no art (or stained glass windows), no
music, Pews were purposely made uncomfortable to keep people focused, all seats
were assigned. There would be a man at the church with a long pole with a
feather at the end which he would
use to tickle the nose and wake
Up any adults who were sleeping,
he would hit children with the
other end if they were goofing off.
Church and
Community
In Puritan life the Church and Community were
closely tied (basically inseparable).
Puritans were very democratic, in a sense, the
elected officials in the church were the ones who
ran both the church and the community. In a
sense then the church ran the community and was
the government but they were still elected just
elected through the church.
There were also public confessions, meaning if
you sinned and wanted forgiveness you had to tell
the entire community during religious service.
Because of all these strict rules the youth of the
community started to break from the religious
beliefs.
The community (Church) tried to solve this by
emphasizing a fear of Hell and Judgment during
their sermons.
This means the majority of American literature
at this time (which is predominately Puritan
Literature) is all focused on Christianity and
Hell/Judgement.
Puritan Writing
•Like everything with Puritans they didn’t use most literary
devices/techniques in their writing, preferring simple and plain
language.
• The one exception being Biblical Allusions
•Nearly all their writing is religious in theme.
•Nearly all writing is sermons or diary entries, there is basically
no Fiction at all.
•Nearly all writing is in the first person, this makes their
connection with God more personal for the reader.
“And when I could no longer look,
I blest His name that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just.
It was his own, it was not mine,
Far be it that I should repine;
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left,"
(Lines 13-20, "The Burning of Our House", Anne Bradstreet, 1666)
"It pleased God, before they came half
seas over, to smite the young man with a
grievous disease, of which he died in a
desperate manner, and so was himself the
first to be thrown overboard. Thus his
curses fell upon his own head, which
astonished all his mates for they saw it
was the just hand of God upon him,"
(Chapter 9, Book 1, Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-1651), William Bradford)
“For it is said, that when that due time,
or appointed time comes, their foot shall
slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as
they are inclined by their own weight.
God will not hold them up in these
slippery places any longer, but will let
them go; and then, at that very instant,
they shall fall into destruction,"
(Number 4, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", Rev. Jonathan Edwards, 1741)
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever"
"To My Dear Beloved Husband" (1650) by Anne Bradstreet
Puritan Architecture
Puritan buildings and furniture were plain (nothing decorative) and
functional. They tended to make their houses resemble the houses from
England because it was a symbol of wealth/class as well as a symbol of
Christianity. For this reason they also tried to encourage the surrounding
Native Americans (Algonquians) to build similar homes for themselves.
Because of all this Puritans today are often seen
as stuck up buzz kills.
According to H.L. Mencken a Puritan can be
described as someone with the “ haunting fear
that someone, somewhere,
may be happy.”
The Reality
A lot of this could also be somewhat exaggerated
anti-Puritan propaganda. In reality:
Puritans would often hunt, fish, swim, skate, and even go bowling
(though not on Sunday)
Puritans drank a lot, it was only getting drunk that they considered a
sin
Although dancing was forbidden they still had fairs and had singing
Puritans had a great appreciation for education and were so
concerned that everyone be able to read the Bible that all men and
women in the community would be taught to read and write.
Their clothes were very colorful, in fact black clothes didn’t exist at
the time.
One last thing
These weren’t
worn by Puritans,
in fact they
weren’t allowed to
wear any buckles.
