In 1629, a group of non-Separatist Puritans left England because of religious persecution. With a royal charter from the Massachusetts Bay Company, they aspired to create a society in Massachusetts that would be a holy model for the rest of the world. The ultimate goal of these people was to serve God through religion, commitment to work, and even worldly pursuits. Throughout the seventeenth century, the Puritans succeeded in creating a model society, at least to some degree. Despite failures such as the Salem witch trials, they made great strides in the development of democracy, capitalism, and education.
The Puritans of New England were united under a common purpose. In the words of Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop, they wanted their society to be “as a city upon a hill,” a model for all of mankind. It was the duty of each member of the community to uphold strict moral standards and to make sure that others did as well. And while the idea of servitude to God helped maintain order in the Puritan society, it is unfair to think that they were a completely sanctimonious people. Pleasure, including sex, was allowed in moderation and even celebrated.
In general, the Puritans maintained high moral and ethical standards. However, their high religious standards begun to drop starting 1662, when the Half-Covenant was instated. The Half-Way covenant offered those whom had not experienced conversion partial membership rights. This widened church membership, but also removed the distinction between the “elect” and other members of society. In effect, the strict religious purity was sacrificed. However, this had to be done. Conversions had decreased, and the second generation lacked the religious zeal of the first. Therefore, the first generation had to do something not only to save their precious ideals and ways, but more importantly, the souls of their sons. They may have been successful in saving the souls of their sons, but because of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, there was a further decline in the clergy.
Despite the bigotry of the Puritan Congregational Church, it is one element of Puritan society that was successfully established and stands as a model for the rest of the world. John Winthrop’s provincial government was a model for democracy, though it was not an actual democracy. Only so-called “visible saints” could vote in town hall meetings. Men who had not experienced conversion and women were excluded. Because religious leaders controlled who was admitted to the church, they effectively controlled who could vote. However, the congregation of the church could hire its minister and regulate his salary. The clergy could not hold public office either. This system can be compared to modern separation of church and state, an important element of society.
Worship was not the only way in which the Puritans honored God. They aspired to serve Him through their earthly works as well. This “Protestant work ethic” centered around a serious commitment to duty in the community. Because of the Puritans’ hard-working nature, Massachusetts became the largest and most influential of the New England colonies, with a strong economy based on fishing, shipbuilding, and lumbering. The development of a capitalist society in North America can be partly attributed to the diligent nature of its early colonists.
Perhaps the most successful aspiration of the Puritan society was education. Most ministers of Puritan New England were graduates of England’s Cambridge and Oxford Universities. The Puritans saw education as integral to the ultimate purpose of serving God. It was a way to prepare future generations for an active, literate role in the ministry.
In his article “Were the Puritans Puritanical?”, Carl N. Degler explains that the Puritans of New England were the first to construct a free system of preparatory schools in the colonies. Early laws required that a town of 50 or more families must hire an educator and a town of 100 or more families must establish a grammar school. England actually lagged behind New England in offering free education for the general public. This was a success for the Puritans in their mission to be as “a city upon a hill.”
Overall, the Puritans were quite successful in fulfilling their aspirations, creating a model society that stands as a shining example. Although the Puritan Congregational Church experienced problems with the second generation and the Salem Witch Trials, its system of town meetings was the basis for democracy, and its “Protestant work ethic” has undoubtedly influenced capitalism in North America. The Puritan education system was perhaps their greatest achievement, outshining that of even England.
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