“The Wordy Shipmates”:
Theocracies in New England
Settling New England
Plymouth Colony (1620)
Separatist Puritans -- “Holy
Commonwealths”
Gov. William Bradford leads the
“saints” and “strangers”
Squanto
Quarrels within the Fold
Massachusetts Bay Colony (Plymouth)
Theocracy
govt. determined by
religious leaders
Oath of allegiance
religious
conformity
Quarrels within the Fold
Anne Hutchinson
Hosts meetings to discuss sermons
Claims direct revelations from Holy
Spirit
General Court (1637)
“Society of Friends” - Quakers
Individual interpretation of “inner
light”
Pacifism
Complete religious freedom
Full participation for women
William Penn
Relationship with the Natives
Religious Toleration + Political
Independence
Great Awakening
Colonists lapse into sinful life
George Whitefield
“Gales of Heavenly Wind”
“new birth” needed
emotional
Jonathan Edwards (Northhampton, MA)
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry
God” (1741)
Results:
Emotional appeal of revivalism
Literacy & Higher Education
denominations = need for tolerance
Forming a Theocracy
You have just separated from
sinful England and have formed a
colony with a theocratic
government. In groups of 3-4
decide on the following:
Your colony’s theology:
List and describe your 5 main
beliefs (Be CREATIVE)
Punishments for unorthodoxy
and blasphemy:
List and detail 5 punishments
for unorthodoxy and sinful
living.