Puritans
"Puritan" describes several Protestant denominations, espcially the Congregationalists, that broke away from the Anglican Church in the 1600s. Their name refers to their belief that the Anglican Church should be purified by removing all Catholic influence. Puritan ethics were noted for their strictness, especially regarding sexual behavior and the theatre. Puritan literature is highlighted by poet John Milton and writer John Bunyan.
Persecuted in England, 100,000 Puritans resettled to the American colonies, especially Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. They dominated New England and had a prfound impact in shaping American history. During the English Civil War, Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell deposed the monarchy under Charles I. The monarchy was restored in 1660 and Puritanism, although not persecuted, lost influence.
Further reading
- Bremer, Francis J. The Puritan Experiment: New England Society from Bradford to Edwards (1995) excerpt and text search
- Morgan, Edmund S. Visible Saints: The History of a Puritan Idea (1965) excerpt and text search
- Vaughan, Alden. The Puritan Tradition in America, 1620-1730 (1997) excerpt and text search
- Woolrych, Austin. Britain in Revolution: 1625-1660 (2003) excerpt and text search
Primary sources
- Bennett, Arthur G., ed. Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions (1975) excerpt and text search
- Heimart, Alan, and Andrew Delbanco, eds. The Puritans in America: A Narrative Anthology (2005) excerpt and text search
- Miller, Perry. The American Puritans: Their Prose and Poetry, 346 pgs. online edition
- Miller, Perry, and Thomas H. Johnson, eds. The Puritans: A Sourcebook of Their Writings (2001)