The Puritans Were Not Tolerant of Other Religions

Summary

The Puritans, seeking religious reform in England, fled persecution and established their colony in Massachusetts in 1630, naming their new settlement Boston. Despite their quest for religious freedom, they were intolerant of dissenting beliefs, notably those of the Quakers. The Quaker doctrine of a direct relationship with God was seen as a threat, leading to the execution of four Quakers, including Mary Dyer, known as the Boston Martyrs. This period marked a dark chapter in Boston's history, but by the 1680s, the rigid Puritan views began to wane, and subsequent generations embraced religious diversity.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Puritans fled to Massachusetts in 1630 to escape persecution in England and establish their own colony.
• 🛐 They sought religious liberty for themselves but were intolerant of others with differing religious views.
• 🌳 The Puritans named their new settlement Boston, after the English town they left behind.
• 🚫 There was no separation of church and state, leading to the Puritans' persecution of those they saw as threats.
• ⚖️ The Puritans were willing to execute individuals, including a young woman, for disobedience to their religious and societal norms.
• 🤝 For about fifty years, the Puritans maintained strict control over Boston, particularly against the Quakers.
• 🧘‍♀️ Quaker beliefs, such as direct personal relationships with God, were seen as a threat to Puritan society.
• 📜 Mary Dyer, a Quaker, was banished from Massachusetts for preaching but defied the order and was eventually executed.
• 🏔 Mary Dyer and three others are known as the Boston Martyrs, executed for their religious beliefs during a dark period in Boston's history.
• 🌱 By the 1680s, Puritan influence began to wane, and subsequent generations in Boston became more open to diverse religious beliefs.

Q & A

Why were the Puritans persecuted in England?

The Puritans were persecuted in England because they wanted to reform the Church of England and purify it of what they saw as corrupting elements and practices of the Catholic faith.

Where did the Puritans flee to in 1630 to start their own colony?

The Puritans fled to the Massachusetts coast in 1630 to start their own colony.

What was the new town they built along the Charles River named, and after what place was it named?

The new town they built along the Charles River was named Boston, after the place they had left behind in England.

How did the Puritans treat others with different religious ideas in their colony?

The Puritans actively opposed others with different religious ideas, feeling it was their right to persecute and prosecute anyone they deemed a threat to their new colony.

What was the relationship between church and state in the Puritan colony?

There was no separation of church and state in the Puritan colony, which allowed them to enforce their religious beliefs on others.

Who were the Quakers and how did their beliefs threaten the Puritans?

The Quakers were a religious group that believed one could have a direct personal relationship with God. This belief was threatening to the Puritans, who feared it could lead to civil unrest.

What happened to Mary Dyer when she arrived in Boston in 1657 to preach?

When Mary Dyer, a Quaker, arrived in Boston in 1657 to preach, she was arrested and banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Why was Mary Dyer executed after her repeated defiance?

Mary Dyer was executed because she repeatedly defied the banishment order and continued to preach her Quaker beliefs, which the Puritans saw as a threat.

On what date was Mary Dyer hanged, and where did this take place?

Mary Dyer was hanged on the morning of June 1st, 1660, from a tree in the middle of Boston Common.

Who are the Boston Martyrs and why are they significant?

The Boston Martyrs are four Quakers, including Mary Dyer, who were executed because of their religious beliefs. They are significant as they represent one of the darkest periods in Boston's history.

How did the religious landscape of Boston change by the 1680s?

By the 1680s, the strict Puritan ideas had started to fade, and new generations of Bostonians became more accepting of other religious faiths.