Prompt: According to Taylor, how did the Puritan worldview both precipitate their departure for New England, and help them adjust when they arrived.
Taylor explains that the relationship that the Puritans had with the church and state in England as a result of the religious beliefs precipitated their emigration from England. With the king as the head of the church, England saw a great deal of political force channeled through the church (160). While many stayed in the Anglican church, a group of Separatists left in response to their view that the church officials should have less power but congregations should have more authority (161). Puritans were zealous in their promotion of their values which included such things as hard work, proving one’s election, and not observing holidays or festivals. Taylor notes, “The Puritan rigor also alarmed the seventeenth-century kings, who wanted a united and quiet realm of unquestioning loyalty” (164). Because the Puritans only “indifferently conformed” as the king wanted James I didn’t punish them, but with the rule of Charles I in 1625 the situations for the Puritans changed. As the bishopric power increased along with prosecution from the church courts under the king, the prospect of moving to the New World, a dangerous venture, became appealing (164). The Puritans hoped to purify their population in American by only including the elect and escaping the corruption of the English church.
Once in the Massachusetts area the Puritans were successful in many ways as a result of their worldview. The Puritans were able to build a government system based on their idea that all men who are elect or saved are equal and superior to non-Christians. They developed a republic system of ruling electing their governors (165). Because the well filled church was very important to their towns, the Puritans distributed their land to groups wanting to build compact towns rather than to individuals as the other colonies did. This method of settling led to communities that could support schools and had mutual help for residents (170). While the conditions in the colony were harsh the Puritan view of hard work led to thankfulness for the opportunity to work since the situation in England had too many workers for not enough work (159). Taylor also explains that “the increasing commercialism of the New England life at the end of the seventeenth century derived from Puritan values rather than manifested their decay” (159). He reasons that because the religion supported economic success as the Puritans viewed success as a marker of election and a blessing from God.
Question: How can we see these same ideas in William Bradford’s narrative?
Excellent response!
The question I answered plays into this prompt as well. Since the Puritans only wanted to prove their election to Heaven as one of the select few, you’re point that they worked very hard for the colonies success seems spot on. Because the communities you mentioned were so critical to the success of everyone involved, it makes sense that they would be against differing opinions that might threaten that communities…sense of community.
For Bradford’s narrative I think we see these ideas given example all over chapter 4. His explanation of the mood toward the expected hardship and workload on page 18 shows this: “They saw that though the people generally bore all these difficulties very cheerfully and with a resolute courage, being in the best and strength of their years; yet old age began to steal on many of them.” While it goes on to mention their very real battles with disease and fatigue in their new colony, they deeply valued the opportunity to prove themselves worthy to God, which gave them a unique outlook on the hardship faced when establishing a colony.