APUSH (AP US History) Deep Dive 2.7: Anne Hutchinson

Summary

Anne Hutchinson was a pioneering figure in American history, known for her defiance of Puritan authority. Born in England in 1592, she immigrated to Massachusetts where she began preaching controversial religious ideas, advocating for personal spiritual connection over strict moral laws. Her beliefs, combined with her role as a female religious leader, challenged Puritan leaders and led to her trial and banishment. Hutchinson's legacy of rebellion, education, and gender defiance remains influential, though her life ended tragically in a Native American attack. She was posthumously pardoned in 1987, 300 years after her death.

Takeaways

• 📚 Anne Hutchinson was a highly educated woman for her time, taught to read by her Puritan minister father who emphasized the importance of reading the Bible.
• 🤰 She was a mother of many, giving birth to 15 children, reflecting the family norms of the 17th century.
• 🏛 Anne's father's criticism of the church and subsequent legal troubles for heresy set a precedent for Anne's own challenges against religious authority.
• 🌐 Anne and her family were part of a larger Puritan migration from England to the New World due to religious persecution under King Charles I.
• 👩‍🏫 In Boston, Anne Hutchinson became a religious leader, hosting Bible study meetings in her home that challenged the prevailing Puritan doctrine of predestination.
• 🚫 Her teachings, which promoted a personal connection with God over strict adherence to societal rules, were seen as a threat to the Puritan establishment and led to her excommunication.
• 💬 Hutchinson's gender and her role as a preacher to both men and women were particularly provocative, challenging the societal norms of her time.
• 🏡 She was banned from holding meetings in her home, but defied the order, demonstrating her rebellious nature.
• 🚫 Anne was brought to court, where she claimed to have direct revelations from God, which was seen as a direct challenge to the male-dominated religious and civil authorities.
• ❄️ Following her banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Hutchinson and her followers founded the city of Portsmouth in Rhode Island, seeking religious freedom.
• 🔪 Tragically, Anne Hutchinson was killed by Native American warriors in New Amsterdam, an event that was seen by some as divine retribution for her defiance.

Q & A

Who was Anne Hutchinson and where was she born?

Anne Hutchinson was an influential Puritan woman born in England in 1592. She became known for her religious views and defiance of traditional Puritan authority.

What role did Anne’s father play in her education and beliefs?

Anne’s father, a Puritan minister, taught her how to read so she could read the Bible. He also influenced her rebellious spirit by encouraging her to stand up for her beliefs, even against church authority.

What religious ideas did Anne Hutchinson adopt from John Cotton?

Anne Hutchinson followed Puritan minister John Cotton, who preached the idea of predestination, which is the belief that God has already decided who will go to heaven or hell. Anne expanded this idea to believe that earthly behavior could not determine salvation, which became central to her teachings.

Why did Anne Hutchinson and her family flee to the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

They fled England due to King Charles I’s persecution of Puritans. In 1634, Anne and her family followed John Cotton, who had already fled to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious freedom.

What was the controversy surrounding Anne Hutchinson’s preaching?

Anne Hutchinson preached that a personal connection with God, not earthly behavior, determined one’s salvation. This challenged the strict moral laws of the Puritans and the authority of the male-dominated religious leadership in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

What was 'antinomianism,' and how did it relate to Anne Hutchinson?

Antinomianism is the belief that Christians are freed from following moral laws through God’s grace. Anne Hutchinson’s teachings aligned with this belief, which directly conflicted with Puritan doctrine, leading to her persecution.

Why did Anne Hutchinson’s meetings cause alarm among Puritan leaders?

Anne’s meetings, which attracted up to 80 people and included men, threatened Puritan leadership not only because of her controversial religious ideas but also because she was a woman preaching to men, defying traditional gender roles.

What were the consequences of Anne Hutchinson’s trial in 1637?

During her trial, Anne claimed that God spoke directly to her, which was seen as a threat to male authority. She was convicted of heresy and banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, leading her and her followers to establish a settlement in Rhode Island.

How did Governor Winthrop and other Puritan leaders respond to Anne Hutchinson’s stillbirth?

Governor Winthrop and other Puritan leaders used Anne’s stillbirth as evidence that God was punishing her. They spread rumors that she gave birth to a demon child, using this as a warning against following her teachings.

What happened to Anne Hutchinson after she moved to New Amsterdam?

After moving to New Amsterdam (later New York) in 1643, Anne and her family were killed in a Native American attack. Governor Winthrop saw her death as divine justice, calling her an 'instrument of the devil.'