““City Upon a Hill”City Upon a Hill”Unit 2: PuritanismUnit 2: Puritanism

Massachusetts Bay — "The City Upon a Hill"Massachusetts Bay — "The City Upon a Hill" Woodcut by John Foster, Boston, 1677Woodcut by John Foster, Boston, 1677 This woodcut represents the earliest known map of New England This woodcut represents the earliest known map of New England

from 1677. The mapmaker showed west at the top with north to the from 1677. The mapmaker showed west at the top with north to the right. right.

The passengers of the The passengers of the ArbellaArbella who left England in 1630 with their who left England in 1630 with their new charter had a great vision. They were to be an example for the new charter had a great vision. They were to be an example for the rest of the world in rightful living. Future governor rest of the world in rightful living. Future governor JOHN JOHN WINTHROPWINTHROP stated their purpose quite clearly: "We shall be as a stated their purpose quite clearly: "We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us."city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us."

The The ArbellaArbella was one of eleven ships carrying over was one of eleven ships carrying over a thousand Puritans to Massachusetts that year. It a thousand Puritans to Massachusetts that year. It was the largest original venture ever attempted was the largest original venture ever attempted in the English New World. The passengers were in the English New World. The passengers were determined to be a beacon for the rest of Europe, determined to be a beacon for the rest of Europe, "A Modell of Christian Charity," in the words of "A Modell of Christian Charity," in the words of the governor.the governor.

John Winthrop travelled to the New World aboard John Winthrop travelled to the New World aboard the the ArbellaArbella. He was elected and dismissed as . He was elected and dismissed as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony several times. several times.

City Upon a Hill - MeaningCity Upon a Hill - Meaning Still aboard the ship Still aboard the ship ArbellaArbella, Winthrop admonished , Winthrop admonished

the future the future Massachusetts Bay colonistsMassachusetts Bay colonists that their that their new community would be "as a city upon a hill", new community would be "as a city upon a hill", watched by the world — which became the ideal watched by the world — which became the ideal the New England colonists placed upon their hilly the New England colonists placed upon their hilly capital city, capital city, BostonBoston..

The Puritans' community in New England would The Puritans' community in New England would set an example of communal charity, affection, set an example of communal charity, affection, and unity to the world, or if the Puritans failed to and unity to the world, or if the Puritans failed to uphold their covenant of God, "we shall be made a uphold their covenant of God, "we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world" of God's story and a by-word through the world" of God's judgment. judgment.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs Puritans believed in Puritans believed in PREDESTINATIONPREDESTINATION. .

This doctrine holds that God is all-powerful and This doctrine holds that God is all-powerful and all-knowing; therefore, the fate of each all-knowing; therefore, the fate of each individual soul is known to God at birth. individual soul is known to God at birth. Nothing an individual can do or say could Nothing an individual can do or say could change their ultimate fate. Puritans believed change their ultimate fate. Puritans believed that those chosen by God to be saved — the that those chosen by God to be saved — the elect — would experience "elect — would experience "CONVERSIONCONVERSION." ."

In this process, God would reveal to the In this process, God would reveal to the individual His grace, and the person would individual His grace, and the person would know he was saved.know he was saved.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs Only the elect could serve as Church Only the elect could serve as Church

members. If a person were truly saved, he members. If a person were truly saved, he would only be capable of behavior would only be capable of behavior endorsed by God. These "living saints" endorsed by God. These "living saints" would serve as an example to the rest of would serve as an example to the rest of the world. During the early years, the world. During the early years, ministers such as ministers such as JOHN COTTONJOHN COTTON carefully carefully screened individuals claiming to have screened individuals claiming to have experienced conversion.experienced conversion.

““Allow”Allow” The colony needed more than a fervent The colony needed more than a fervent

church to survive. Many church to survive. Many DISSENTERSDISSENTERS — — Christian men and women who were not Christian men and women who were not converted — also lived within the ranks of converted — also lived within the ranks of Massachusetts Bay. Towns such as Massachusetts Bay. Towns such as MARBLEHEADMARBLEHEAD were founded by non- were founded by non-Puritan settlers. The Puritans allowed this Puritan settlers. The Puritans allowed this for the sake of commerce. Many skills for the sake of commerce. Many skills were necessary for a vibrant economy.were necessary for a vibrant economy.

HarvardHarvard An elected legislature was established, echoing the desire An elected legislature was established, echoing the desire

for self-government already seen in other English colonies. for self-government already seen in other English colonies. Although ministers were prohibited from holding political Although ministers were prohibited from holding political office, many of the most important decisions were made by office, many of the most important decisions were made by the clergy. In 1636, the clergy. In 1636, HARVARD COLLEGEHARVARD COLLEGE was instituted for was instituted for the purpose of training Puritan ministers.the purpose of training Puritan ministers.

This engraving shows the Harvard campus as it looked This engraving shows the Harvard campus as it looked during the 18th century. during the 18th century.

Great MigrationGreat Migration By the end of the 1630s, as part of a "By the end of the 1630s, as part of a "GREAT GREAT

MIGRATIONMIGRATION" of Puritans out of England, " of Puritans out of England, nearly 14,000 more Puritan settlers came to nearly 14,000 more Puritan settlers came to Massachusetts, and the colony began to Massachusetts, and the colony began to spread. In 1691, Plymouth colony, still without spread. In 1691, Plymouth colony, still without a charter, was absorbed by their burgeoning a charter, was absorbed by their burgeoning neighbor to the West.neighbor to the West.

The great experiment seemed to be a The great experiment seemed to be a smashing success for the first few decades. In smashing success for the first few decades. In the end however, worldly concerns led to a the end however, worldly concerns led to a decline in religious fervor as the 1600s grew decline in religious fervor as the 1600s grew old.old.