Who were the Puritans?
 Similar to the Pilgrims in having
issues with Church of England
 Pilgrims wanted to separate from
Church … Puritans wanted to
“purify” the Church
 Many were important within
English society (merchants,
landowners, lawyers)
 King Charles I opposed their
movement and mistreated them
Puritans leave England
 1629 (9 years after the Pilgrims make it to Plymouth),
groups of Puritans decide to leave England and go to
America
 900 Puritans, 11 ships
 Formed Massachusetts Bay Company – received
charter to establish settlements
 Present-day Massachusetts and New Hampshire
“City upon a Hill”
 John Winthrop began leader of
Puritans
 Believed they were to be an example
to others on how to live life
 “Now the only way…is…to walk
humbly with our God…We must
consider that we shall be as a City
upon a Hill. The eyes of all people
are upon us.” – John Winthrop
Massachusetts Bay Colony
 Set up several settlements in their colony, main town – Boston
 1643, around 20,000 people lived in Massachusetts Bay
Colony
 System of government – General Court
 Each town sent representatives
 Only for adult male members of Puritan church
 Founded so they can worship freely, but was not equal to those
who were not Puritans
 Did not believe in religious tolerance – recognition that other
people have the right to different opinions