Overview
This lecture examines the choices and consequences that shaped Colonial New England, focusing on the Pilgrims, Puritans, social structures, religious life, and colonial interactions with Native Americans.
Pilgrims and Puritans: Origins and Beliefs
- Pilgrims were separatists who left England to practice Christianity their own way, initially moving to the Netherlands before sailing to America in 1620.
- The Pilgrims drafted the Mayflower Compact aboard the Mayflower, agreeing to create just and equal laws.
- Puritans sought to reform the Church of England from within and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629.
- Puritans believed church members should control worship and leadership, identifying as Congregationalists.
- John Winthrop envisioned the Puritan settlement as a "city upon a hill," exemplifying social welfare and religious unity.
Society and Gender in New England Colonies
- New England colonies had a more balanced male-female ratio due to families migrating together.
- The absence of a cash crop led to more evenly distributed wealth and the emergence of a "middling sort" (middle class).
- Society was patriarchal; men held religious and political authority while women were excluded from ministry and leadership.
- Despite patriarchal norms, women, such as Anne Hutchinson, sometimes challenged religious authority but faced severe consequences.
Religion, Education, and Authority
- Church was the social and geographic center of New England towns; religious authorities influenced politics.
- High literacy rates were valued so individuals could read the Bible, a legacy of the Protestant Reformation.
- Women often taught children to read and transmit religious values but were restricted from public religious roles.
- Anne Hutchinson's dissent led to her banishment, illustrating limits on women's authority in religious matters.
Expansion and Native American Relations
- New towns were founded by groups of men, not just wealthy planters, diversifying economic activity (farming, fishing, trade).
- The region was home to Algonquian-speaking tribes, including the Mohegan, Pequot, Narragansett, and Massachusetts.
- The Pequot War (1636-1638) was a violent conflict between settlers and the Pequot tribe, resulting in massacres.
- Colonists attempted to convert Indigenous people, establishing "praying towns" for Native converts to Christianity.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Pilgrims — English separatists who broke away from the Church of England and settled in Plymouth.
- Puritans — Reform-minded Protestants who sought to purify the Church of England and established Massachusetts Bay.
- Mayflower Compact — 1620 agreement for self-government among Pilgrim settlers.
- Congregationalists — Puritans who believed in self-governing congregations.
- Patriarchy — Social system where men hold primary power.
- Pequot War — Conflict (1636-1638) between New England colonists and the Pequot tribe.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the story of Anne Hutchinson and the Pequot War for a deeper understanding of social and religious conflicts.
- Prepare notes on differences between Pilgrims and Puritans for the next class.