Although the rights of political and religious dissenters grew during colonial times,

much of the period from 1607-1776 was characterized by social order rather strictly

enforced by Euro-American authorities and fundamentalist Protestant religious views.

Thesis w/ Tension:

Created for acceleration and remediation of US History students

Setting The Scene:

The 13 Colonies were settled by many different groups intendingto defend and advance their own religious views while prosperingeconomically in the Wilderness of North America.

The Pilgrims (Separatists), Puritans, Quakers, Catholics, Huguenots,and others would leave the persecution of Europe and its INQUISITIONenvironment… for the possibilities of happiness in the New World.

strongest Argument:

Dissenters in early Colonial times were often ostracized,punished, or harmed for their non-conformity.

Roger Williams and Ann Hutchinson were excommunicated in the 1630’s for their challenges to the moral authorities

in their Puritan communities.

Roger Williams would establish a new colony based onreligious tolerance called Rhode Island.

Anne Hutchinson’s theology of antinomianism …

i.e. spirituality can be more egalitarian…predestination might entitle you to less restrictive behavior…

was deemed an heretical abomination by the clergy

Mary Dyer, a good friend of Anne Hutchinson, is led to herexecution in Boston…her crime…she converted to join

the QUAKERS!

The Malleus Maleficarum was used in Europeand the Americas to identify and prosecuteindividuals suspected of Witchcraft…

The New England Puritans were basically no fun…survival was paramount…theocracy was strident…

superstition was ubiquitous.

All this Paranoia made ultra-conformity endemic to the mindsetof the religious leaders in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692…

witchcraft trials similar to those found in Europe had begun in America.

With very sketchy empirical evidence, but strong convictionin Old Testament theology…religious officials tried,convicted, and sentenced 20 “Witches” in Salembefore the Massachusetts Governor intervened.

Women accused of adultery could be forced to wear an “A”

on their clothing to signify their unfaithfulness and shame

in a society that preached much forgiveness, but practiced little.

The Scarlet Letter

Thesis support continued:

…” much of the period from 1607-1776 was characterized by social order rather strictlyenforced by Euro-American authorities and fundamentalist Protestant religious views.”

1 Samuel 17: ”David and Goliath”

Gutenberg Bible

In 1611 the new KING JAMESversion of the BIBLE waspublished in England for usein all Churches…

…not exactly what the Catholic Popeendorsed… too few books …not enough Latin…

…Puritans were more concerned about pipe organ music in Anglican services…they feared it was the devil’s voice

3 You shall have no other gods before me.4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.7 You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.13 You shall not murder.14 You shall not commit adultery.15 You shall not steal.16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Exodus: 20:3-4,7-8,12-17

Images of Noah’s Arc and other Biblicalhighlights were inspirational to theseColonists…

Was the Mayflower’s voyagenot religious in nature?

… a new beginning in a new WORLD

Massasoit’s peace treaty with thePilgrims in 1621 …

Wampanoags + Pilgrims=PEACE

Squanto shows Pilgrims howto plant…

Fish+Seed+Soil+Water+Sun=Squash

Native American religious practices were largely animistic and based on a spiritual reverence for nature …these too were often derided as “witchcraft” or “devil worship”.

Iroquois false face society

African American religious practices based onWest African beliefs …”voodoo”…

were also seen as threatening

and forms of “witchcraft”.

African American slavery and conquests of Native Americanswere often justified in Colonial times on religious grounds.

Legends and myths of the earliest encounters betweenAnimistic Americans and Christian Europeans persist…Pocahontas was an heroic early Christian convert.

Her newChristian name was

Rebecca

William Penn established QUAKER settlements in Pennsylvania…preaching pacifism and tolerance.

The 1649 Act of Toleration established the colony of Maryland with tolerance promised

for Roman Catholics…but not for Jews.

Strict order was generally the norm in most colonial settlements, and tolerance, when offered

was still limited by doctrines and prejudice.

Essay thesis statement tension now identified and explained:

“Although the rights of political and religious dissenters grew during colonial times,”

…Yet the rights of dissenters had grown in this era, changing mindsets to

eventually embrace ideas from theEnlightenment and Scientific Revolution.

In 1689 John Locke’s Two Treatise on Government, theorieswould be applied to the evolving Constitution of the

British Empire as England acquired her

Bill of Rights

The 1689 Bill of Rights was the most “enlightened”government contract in the western world as it entitledproperty holding British Citizens many of the rights andfreedoms Americans value greatly to the present day.

That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without

consent of Parliament is illegal; That the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the

execution of laws by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal;

That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature, are illegal and

pernicious; That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by

pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall

be granted, is illegal; That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and

all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal;

That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of

Parliament, is against law;

1689 Bill of Rights… a “constitutional monarchy”

is evolving

That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law; That election of members of Parliament ought to be free; That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in

Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;

That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;

That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be

freeholders; That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular

persons before conviction are illegal and void; And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending,

strengthening and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently.

1689 Bill of Rights …continued

In 1735 the John Peter Zenger trial was an important step toward securing rights of the freedom of the press to

openly criticize the government (colonial authorities).

The Great Awakening in the 1730’s – 1740’s greatly weakened the authority of the traditional Anglican and

Congregationalist (Puritan) domination once seen in the Colonies.

Personal relationships with Godas the individual’s Savior, werevalued over more traditionalreligious teachings…

…independent and saved…

The Great Awakening…was a religious revival experiencethat impacted the lives of all American Colonists…

…whether they lived in cities, towns, villages, or hundreds of miles from the Atlantic Coast…

…similar to the 21st Century eventof “9/11” it caused most people toreconsider larger issues in their society and personal lives

The “New Lights” would establish new Churches and Colleges to encourage their membership to grow and challenge the

dogma and traditions of the “Old Lights”.

Old Lights

Harvard 1636 CongregationalWilliam & Mary 1693 AnglicanYale 1701 Congregational

New Lights

Princeton 1746 PresbyterianPennsylvania 1751 NonsectarianColumbia 1754 AnglicanBrown 1764 BaptistRutgers 1766 Dutch ReformedDartmouth 1769 Congregational

Accompanying this religious awakening and spiritual wellspring,the scientific revolution / enlightenment thinkers began to

embrace the concept of “Deism”… a belief in a

Creator / Supreme Being…who established a worldwith “natural laws” and “natural rights”.

Deists like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson weresometimes criticized for their practices of religious freedom

…however…while Franklin and Jefferson were not going to church

to stay home and practice scientific applications…

Franklin’s electricity = amusement ?

Jefferson’s pasta machine = macaroni & cheese!

Jefferson’s The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth

…the NEW TESTAMENT GOSPELS…reduced to just the wordsand deeds of JESUS…

Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac

… full of the wit and advice of America’s foremost citizen and publisher…

…they were staunch believers in protecting religious freedom by separating the powers of

“Church and State”

Virginia’s Declaration of Rights 1776

Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence;and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to thedictates of conscience; and that it is the mutually duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.

Dissent during Colonial period would eventually become the fire of Liberty that would be manifested

in the American Revolution.

“We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among

which are…

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

Dissent and freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition…

…would eventually be fully recognized as rightsfor all Americans…

…the American Revolution was a culminationof many events leading to this reality…

Conclusion:

Suggested listening for greater appreciation:

1. Witchy Woman …The Eagles2. Take The Devil …The Eagles3. Superstition …Stevie Wonder4. America The Beautiful…Keb Mo

"No freeman shall be ... imprisoned ... or in any way harmed . . . except by the lawful judgment of his peers ......

- Magna Carta, 1215

__1. This statement is the basis for the democratic principle of the right to

1 trial by jury2 freedom from cruel and unusual punishment

3 freedom from double jeopardy4 protection against self-incrimination

__2. The Mayflower Compact is important to the concept of a democratic society because it represents

(1) an effort by the colonists to use force to resist the King(2) a clear step toward self-government

(3) an early attempt to establish universal suffrage(4) an attempt by the colonists to establish freedom of religion

__3. The Mayflower Compact, House of Burgesses, and Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are all examples of the efforts of colonial Americans to

(1) use democratic practices in government(2) protest British land policies(3) establish religious freedom

(4) overthrow British royal governors

“. . . Now, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one’s house. A man’s house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle. . . .”

-James Otis, Against the Writs of Assistance, 1761

___4. Which provision in the Bill of Rights includes this same belief?

(1) right to a fair trial (2) protection against unreasonable search and seizure (3) guarantee against double jeopardy (4) prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment

___5. Under mercantilism, the thirteen American colonies were expected to provide Great Britain with

1 finished American-manufactured goods2 raw materials and markets for British products

3 officials to represent colonial interests in Parliament4 laborers to work in British factories

___6. The British system of mercantilism was opposed by many American colonists because it

(1) placed quotas on immigration(2) discouraged the export of raw materials to England

(3) placed restrictions on trading(4) encouraged colonial manufacturing

___7. Which statement is most accurate about the movement for

independence in the thirteen colonies?

(1) The independence movement began soon after the founding of  the Plymouth Colony.

(2) Protests against British colonial policies gradually led to demands for independence.

(3) The King of England required the colonists to become economically self-sufficient.

(4) The movement for independence was equally strong in all of the colonies.

___8. Which principle of government is proposed in the Declaration of Independence?

1 Political power originates with a strong central government.2 The primary function of government is to protect natural rights.3 A system of checks and balances is the most effective way to

prevent governmental abuse of power.4 Individual liberties must be guaranteed by a strong bill of rights.

___9. In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was most influenced by the writers of the

1 Romantic Era        3 Renaissance2 Enlightenment       4 Middle Ages

___10. In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was influenced most by John Locke’s idea of

(1) due process of law(2) natural rights

(3) the rights of the accused(4) the right to privacy

___11. Which feature must a nation have to be considered a democracy?

(1) a strong president(2) citizen participation in government

(3) elected judges to conduct trials(4) a set of laws