The PuritansThe Puritans1600’s & early 1600’s & early

1700’s 1700’s

Thematic Question:Thematic Question:Are people basically good?Are people basically good?

Puritan settlers believed that human beings Puritan settlers believed that human beings were sinful creatures doomed to a fiery were sinful creatures doomed to a fiery eternity unless saved by the grace of God. eternity unless saved by the grace of God.

Yet other who came to North America Yet other who came to North America celebrated the powers of reason and celebrated the powers of reason and proclaimed the goodness and intrinsic worth proclaimed the goodness and intrinsic worth of humans. of humans.

Are people destined to struggle against their Are people destined to struggle against their basest instincts? Or are they fundamentally basest instincts? Or are they fundamentally good—and capable of becoming even better?good—and capable of becoming even better?

Cultural InfluencesCultural Influences

PuritansPuritans – were a group of English Protestants in the – were a group of English Protestants in the 1600’s who had sought to “purify” the Church of 1600’s who had sought to “purify” the Church of England and return to simpler ways of worshipping. England and return to simpler ways of worshipping. They were persecuted for their efforts and many left They were persecuted for their efforts and many left the country for America.the country for America.

ReligionReligion was the most influential cultural force on was the most influential cultural force on writers of this period. Puritan values and beliefs writers of this period. Puritan values and beliefs directed people’s everyday lives as well as the directed people’s everyday lives as well as the formation of an American society.formation of an American society.

Puritan settlers believed themselves chosen by God to Puritan settlers believed themselves chosen by God to create a new order in Americacreate a new order in America

““A city upon a hill” – where the eyes of all the world A city upon a hill” – where the eyes of all the world will be upon uswill be upon us

ReligionReligion Original Sin:Original Sin: The Puritan's believed in The Puritan's believed in original sinoriginal sin, ,

the belief that man is born in sin that originated with the belief that man is born in sin that originated with Adam and Eve's disobedience to God and their Adam and Eve's disobedience to God and their expulsion from the garden of Eden. expulsion from the garden of Eden.

The idea of sin was a reality for them. They were on The idea of sin was a reality for them. They were on constant guard against those in the community who constant guard against those in the community who were engaged in sin. People in this community were engaged in sin. People in this community reported others in the community who they believed reported others in the community who they believed were sinful in order that the sinners might be saved were sinful in order that the sinners might be saved and, more importantly, that God would see the and, more importantly, that God would see the community as a whole as free from sin and vigilant community as a whole as free from sin and vigilant on the side of God.on the side of God.

PredestinationPredestination

God determines who is “elected”, admitted to God determines who is “elected”, admitted to the kingdom of heaven, and, therefore, who is the kingdom of heaven, and, therefore, who is condemned to hell. condemned to hell.

The Puritan community's goal was to establish The Puritan community's goal was to establish "the city on the hill,” an idealized version of "the city on the hill,” an idealized version of God's kingdom, obedient to God's will and God's kingdom, obedient to God's will and free from sin.free from sin.

Sin in the community would prevent the elect Sin in the community would prevent the elect from being chosen by God. The rooting out of from being chosen by God. The rooting out of all sin was vital to the salvation of the elect.all sin was vital to the salvation of the elect.

Puritan GovernmentPuritan Government

Theocracy: Theocracy: A combine of state and A combine of state and religious power; governed by officials religious power; governed by officials who are regarded as divinely guided.who are regarded as divinely guided.

Function to keep community Function to keep community together—prevent disunity.together—prevent disunity.

When people began to assert their When people began to assert their individuality, the theocracy tightened individuality, the theocracy tightened its grip (Salem Witch trials)its grip (Salem Witch trials)

Authors:Authors:Anne Bradstreet Anne Bradstreet 1612-16721612-1672

First notable American First notable American poetpoet

Wrote poetry to help her Wrote poetry to help her overcome the harsh overcome the harsh realities of colonial realities of colonial AmericaAmerica

Poetry focused on Poetry focused on religion, reality of daily religion, reality of daily life, her husband, her life, her husband, her eight children, and her eight children, and her house.house.

“To My Dear and Loving Husband” & “Upon the Burning of Our House”

Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards 1703-17581703-1758

Edwards was a Puritan minister Edwards was a Puritan minister whose masterful sermons helped to whose masterful sermons helped to trigger the Great Awakening, a trigger the Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept through religious revival that swept through New England from1734-1750.New England from1734-1750.

Edwards believed that religion should Edwards believed that religion should be rooted not only in reason but also be rooted not only in reason but also in emotion.in emotion.

This belief resulted in powerfully This belief resulted in powerfully persuasive sermons with fiery persuasive sermons with fiery descriptions of hell and eternal descriptions of hell and eternal damnation.damnation.“Sinners in the Hands of

an Angry God”

Puritan LegacyPuritan Legacy

American work ethic – Hard work American work ethic – Hard work leads to financial successleads to financial success

Value of educationValue of education

- public schools- public schools

- equal education for women- equal education for women

- higher education – Harvard University- higher education – Harvard University Religion sets moral code/valuesReligion sets moral code/values

The CrucibleThe CrucibleThe CrucibleThe Crucible

by Arthur Millerby Arthur Miller

Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

In 1692, twenty people were executed for witchcraft in Salem Village,

Massachusetts 19 were hanged; 1 was pressed to death (14 women; 6 men) Some others died in prison Events that led to the trials began in

January First arrest warrants issued on February

29 Special court established in June, with first

hanging on June 10 The final hanging took place on

September 22 Special court was dissolved in October

WitchcraftWitchcraft The belief in witches (magic powers for evil The belief in witches (magic powers for evil

purposes) can be traced back to ancient times.purposes) can be traced back to ancient times. For more than 300 years, Church officials in For more than 300 years, Church officials in

Europe brought suspects of witchcraft to trial.Europe brought suspects of witchcraft to trial. Between 1484 and 1782, more than 300,000 Between 1484 and 1782, more than 300,000

women were put to death on charges of women were put to death on charges of witchcraft.witchcraft.

This fear followed to the U.S., where many This fear followed to the U.S., where many women were persecuted in Virginia, women were persecuted in Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

““Thou Shall Not Suffer a Witch to Live” Thou Shall Not Suffer a Witch to Live” Exodus 22:18 Exodus 22:18

Joan of Arc

Women found guilty of witchcraft in Europe

Proof of WitchcraftProof of Witchcraft

1. The court proved that a person was a witch by 1. The court proved that a person was a witch by testimony of a Church member.testimony of a Church member.2. Suspected witches were poked with pins (in 2. Suspected witches were poked with pins (in search of the “devil’s mark”) or a spot where no search of the “devil’s mark”) or a spot where no pain was felt. Often times they examined pain was felt. Often times they examined birthmarks, moles, freckles, etc., making the birthmarks, moles, freckles, etc., making the accused strip down to nothing in order to be accused strip down to nothing in order to be examined closely in front of a group of people.examined closely in front of a group of people.3. Another method of identifying a witch involved 3. Another method of identifying a witch involved the practice of dunking. The accused was thrown the practice of dunking. The accused was thrown into a body of water with their hands and feet into a body of water with their hands and feet bound together. If the body floated, the person bound together. If the body floated, the person was determined to be a witch; if the body sank, the was determined to be a witch; if the body sank, the person was acquitted. Ironically, in order to prove person was acquitted. Ironically, in order to prove your innocence, you had to die.your innocence, you had to die.

Identifying a WitchIdentifying a Witch

Identifying a WitchIdentifying a Witch

Witch Trials Witch Trials

Witch Arrest

The Trial of Rebecca Nurse

Salem Witch TrialSalem Witch Trial

The CrucibleThe Crucible/McCarthyism/McCarthyism The Crucible The Crucible (1953) – An Allegory(1953) – An Allegory

- An extended metaphor: people or objects in the - An extended metaphor: people or objects in the story represent meanings outside the story story represent meanings outside the story

(represents concepts, philosophies, etc.).(represents concepts, philosophies, etc.). The CrucibleThe Crucible is an allegory of the McCarthy era—paranoia is an allegory of the McCarthy era—paranoia

about Communist infiltration is comparable to the about Communist infiltration is comparable to the paranoia surrounding the Salem Witch Trials.paranoia surrounding the Salem Witch Trials.

Spectral evidence– the testimony of a church member Spectral evidence– the testimony of a church member who claimed to have seen a person’s spirit performing who claimed to have seen a person’s spirit performing witchcraft– was enough to sentence the accused to witchcraft– was enough to sentence the accused to death.death.

Belief in witchcraft fueled a climate of hysteria and Belief in witchcraft fueled a climate of hysteria and suspicion, turning neighbor against neighbor.suspicion, turning neighbor against neighbor.

McCarthyismMcCarthyism 1950’s—The Cold War1950’s—The Cold War The fear of Russia after WWII & CommunismThe fear of Russia after WWII & Communism Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy charged that Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy charged that

the state department had been infiltrated by more the state department had been infiltrated by more than 200 communists.than 200 communists.

McCarthy exploited his position as Chairman of the McCarthy exploited his position as Chairman of the Senate permanent investigations committee by Senate permanent investigations committee by holding widely publicized hearings. During which, holding widely publicized hearings. During which, sweeping accusations were made, and people were sweeping accusations were made, and people were questioned in a hostile and inquisitorial manner.questioned in a hostile and inquisitorial manner.

During the hearings, people’s private lives were During the hearings, people’s private lives were mercilessly scrutinized, and many were ruined.mercilessly scrutinized, and many were ruined.

McCarthyismMcCarthyism

Although a Senate committee determined Although a Senate committee determined McCarthy’s claims to be unfounded, he refused to McCarthy’s claims to be unfounded, he refused to retract his charges, even though he had provided retract his charges, even though he had provided no real evidence to support them.no real evidence to support them.

McCarthy’s accusations shook the entire nation, McCarthy’s accusations shook the entire nation, resulting in a pervasive atmosphere of fear and resulting in a pervasive atmosphere of fear and suspicion.suspicion.

Miller appeared before the congressional Un-Miller appeared before the congressional Un-American Activities Committee for his political American Activities Committee for his political beliefs, but refused to name writers who had beliefs, but refused to name writers who had been to Communist-inspired meetings.been to Communist-inspired meetings.

Miller was held in contempt of court in 1957 and Miller was held in contempt of court in 1957 and black listed. The ruling was reversed in 1958.black listed. The ruling was reversed in 1958.

Arthur MillerArthur Miller Born 1929Born 1929 InfluencesInfluences

- Henrick Ibsen (social protest writer)- Henrick Ibsen (social protest writer) - The Great Depression- The Great Depression - World War II- World War II

Central Themes in WorksCentral Themes in Works - Man can survive only by attaining his personal dignity- Man can survive only by attaining his personal dignity - “To thine own self be true”- “To thine own self be true”

1949 – Won Pulitzer Prize for 1949 – Won Pulitzer Prize for Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman 1950’s – Cold War begins after WWII: fear of communism.1950’s – Cold War begins after WWII: fear of communism. Senator Joseph McCarthy starts “Red Scare”. Rational minds Senator Joseph McCarthy starts “Red Scare”. Rational minds

affected by affected by fear = witch hunt fear = witch hunt 1956 – When Miller was called before the House Un-American 1956 – When Miller was called before the House Un-American

Committee, he refused to name people he had seen 10 years Committee, he refused to name people he had seen 10 years earlier at an alleged communist writer’s. He was convicted of earlier at an alleged communist writer’s. He was convicted of contempt but appealed and won.contempt but appealed and won.

Died 2005Died 2005

Arthur MillerArthur Miller

Senator McCarthy & HearingSenator McCarthy & Hearing