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Crisis in New England

Crisis in New England. Question for today: What circumstances led to the demise of the Puritan experiment? How can we explain the “witchcraft” craze in Salem?. Outline: 1. Growing diversity in the colonies 2. Society of Friends 3. Rising tensions in Massachusetts

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Crisis in New England

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  1. Crisis in New England

  2. Question for today: What circumstances led to the demise of the Puritan experiment? How can we explain the “witchcraft” craze in Salem? Outline: 1. Growing diversity in the colonies 2. Society of Friends 3. Rising tensions in Massachusetts 4. Salem “witchcraft” craze 5. Historical explanations

  3. 1. Growing diversity in the colonies • New Netherland (founded 1624) • Freedom of the press and religious tolerance

  4. New Amsterdam Harbor, 1650 City Hall, 1660

  5. Proprietary Colonies • Maryland: official tolerance for all Christians • Carolina: freedom of conscience except for atheists • Pennsylvania: religious freedom except for atheists; govt officials must be Christian

  6. 2. The Society of Friends (Quakers) • Theology of universal love • the divine “inner light” • Rejected idea of original sin • Refused acts of social deference • Pacifists • Gender equality in spiritual matters

  7. William Penn’s plan for Pennsylvania: • Purchase land from Delaware Indians • Religious toleration • All free men may vote (no property requirement)

  8. 3. Rising Tensions in New England • Profit motive: merchants; Anglicans • Wars with Indians: King Philip’s War (1675) • Land disputes • Strict rules enforced • Political erosion: new charter in 1691

  9. 4. Salem Witchcraft Craze • Tituba, servant for Reverend Samuel Parris • 200 accused of witchcraft in 1692-1693 • Spectral evidence • Mary Warren recants, briefly • Governor Phips stops the Salem court

  10. Possible explanations for the “fits” • Witchcraft is real? • Fraud: faked fits • Abnormal psychology • Trauma from Indian wars • Ergot fungus • Tensions about gender roles • Land disputes

  11. Salem village, 1692

  12. 3 types of English colonies • 1. Royal colonies: • Crown owns the land • Crown or royal agents make land grants • Crown appoints Governor and his Council • Charter colonies (two kinds): • 2. Corporate colonies. Crown gives land and governing powers to a corporation • 3. Proprietary colonies. Crown gives land and governing powers to one or more private individuals (Proprietors)

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