January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2011 – American LiteratureAmerican LiteratureWELCOME BACK!!!!!WELCOME BACK!!!!!You will need:You will need: Pen/PencilPen/Pencil NotebookNotebook

Homework:Homework: Question sheet: Question sheet:

Introduction to Introduction to Puritanism and the Puritanism and the Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

Agenda:Agenda: QuickwriteQuickwrite AgendaAgenda

Goals:Goals: Introduce Introduce

Puritanism and Puritanism and The CrucibleThe Crucible

Quickwrite:Quickwrite:

What do you know about the What do you know about the Puritans and Puritan society?Puritans and Puritan society?

Unit 2: Unit 2: The CrucibleThe Crucible

Background:Background:

Early Puritanism and The Early Puritanism and The Salem Witch Trials of 1692Salem Witch Trials of 1692

Who Were the Early Who Were the Early Puritans?Puritans? ““Puritan” is a word used to describe Puritan” is a word used to describe

a number of Protestant groups of the a number of Protestant groups of the 1616thth and 17 and 17thth centuries. centuries.

They first arrived in America in 1620.They first arrived in America in 1620. Puritans fled to the New World from Puritans fled to the New World from

England to avoid religious England to avoid religious persecution.persecution.

Puritans believed in simple forms of Puritans believed in simple forms of worship and a humble way of life.worship and a humble way of life.

The Puritan LegacyThe Puritan Legacy

Puritans contributed to the American Puritans contributed to the American character through their moral, ethical, character through their moral, ethical, and religious convictions.and religious convictions.

Harvard College was established by Harvard College was established by the Puritan culture, one example of the Puritan culture, one example of their great value of education.their great value of education.

They penned the Mayflower Compact, They penned the Mayflower Compact, upon which our Constitution is based.upon which our Constitution is based.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs

Puritans believed in the simple worship Puritans believed in the simple worship and church organization described in the and church organization described in the New Testament.New Testament.

They valued self-reliance, industriousness, They valued self-reliance, industriousness, temperance and simplicity.temperance and simplicity.

They believed the Bible to be the literal They believed the Bible to be the literal word of God.word of God.

They examined their inner and outer lives, They examined their inner and outer lives, as their beliefs dictated they should.as their beliefs dictated they should.

PredestinationPredestination

The Puritans believed that most of The Puritans believed that most of humanity was damned (the humanity was damned (the “unregenerate”), and that only a select “unregenerate”), and that only a select number of people would gain eternal number of people would gain eternal salvation (the “elect”).salvation (the “elect”).

Determining whether an individual was Determining whether an individual was part of the “elect” was a difficult and part of the “elect” was a difficult and uncertain endeavor. No one could be uncertain endeavor. No one could be sure whether s/he was in God’s good sure whether s/he was in God’s good graces, even with saintly behavior.graces, even with saintly behavior.

Puritan PoliticsPuritan Politics

The Puritans of the New World lived The Puritans of the New World lived under a under a theocracy, theocracy, or a system of or a system of government in which the church and government in which the church and state are closely linked and religious law state are closely linked and religious law is man’s law.is man’s law.

In such communities, the religious In such communities, the religious leader was also a civic leader, and the leader was also a civic leader, and the spiritual as well as social well-being of spiritual as well as social well-being of the community was the responsibility of the community was the responsibility of the leader.the leader.

Government by Government by ContractContract Puritans believed that people Puritans believed that people

should enter into governmental should enter into governmental contracts freely, as exhibited in contracts freely, as exhibited in the Mayflower Compact.the Mayflower Compact.

Members of “the elect” were Members of “the elect” were expected to exert great influence expected to exert great influence on the government, which resulted on the government, which resulted in undemocratic political views.in undemocratic political views.

Puritan WomenPuritan Women

Puritan women held little power or Puritan women held little power or influence in their communities, influence in their communities, particularly unmarried women.particularly unmarried women.

Women were not allowed to own Women were not allowed to own property.property.

While its actual practice was unusual, While its actual practice was unusual, husbands were allowed to punish or husbands were allowed to punish or publicly humiliate their wives for publicly humiliate their wives for infractions such as insubordination.infractions such as insubordination.

Cotton Mather (1663-Cotton Mather (1663-1728)1728) Cotton Mather was Puritan Cotton Mather was Puritan

minister and one of the first minister and one of the first American medicinal scientists.American medicinal scientists.

He campaigned for inoculations He campaigned for inoculations during the smallpox outbreak of during the smallpox outbreak of the early 1720s and potentially the early 1720s and potentially saved 300 lives.saved 300 lives.

Cotton Mather was a published Cotton Mather was a published and respected scholar.and respected scholar.

Cotton Cotton Mather/Reverend HaleMather/Reverend Hale Cotton Mather’s published works Cotton Mather’s published works

concerning suspected witchcraft cases concerning suspected witchcraft cases gave more credibility to the idea that gave more credibility to the idea that witchcraft was present in New England witchcraft was present in New England in the late 1600s.in the late 1600s.

The character of Reverend Hale in The character of Reverend Hale in Arthur Miller’s Arthur Miller’s The Crucible The Crucible is inspired is inspired by the life and works of Cotton Mather.by the life and works of Cotton Mather.

Salem in 1692Salem in 1692

The summer of 1692 in Salem, The summer of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, was the setting for an Massachusetts, was the setting for an infamous American witchhunt.infamous American witchhunt.

19 people were put to death after 19 people were put to death after refusing to plead guilty to charges of refusing to plead guilty to charges of witchcraft.witchcraft.

The primary evidence presented to the The primary evidence presented to the court was the testimony of a number of court was the testimony of a number of young girls who claimed to be persecuted young girls who claimed to be persecuted by the witches they named. by the witches they named.

A Quick Overview…A Quick Overview…

Salem’s Reverend Parris’ slave, Tituba, Salem’s Reverend Parris’ slave, Tituba, was caught dancing in the forest with was caught dancing in the forest with some young girls from the village. some young girls from the village. When some of the girls began showing When some of the girls began showing signs of “affliction” such as choking, signs of “affliction” such as choking, chills, sleeplessness and other chills, sleeplessness and other symptoms, the townspeople feared symptoms, the townspeople feared witchcraft. Soon a court was established witchcraft. Soon a court was established and trials commenced. Those that plead and trials commenced. Those that plead guilty and begged forgiveness were guilty and begged forgiveness were sentenced to prison, while those who sentenced to prison, while those who refused to admit guilt were put to death.refused to admit guilt were put to death.

The Puritan ReputationThe Puritan Reputation

Today, many Americans associate Today, many Americans associate Puritan culture with superstition, Puritan culture with superstition, intolerance and inflexible moral intolerance and inflexible moral codes.codes.

The word “puritanical” means The word “puritanical” means “marked by stern morality.”“marked by stern morality.”