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History lessons often present the Puritans as overly serious, religious individuals who wore all black, sported buckled shoes, and supposedly invented Thanksgiving. However, the reality of their story is far more captivating and complex than the typical classroom narrative.
10. The Economic Backbone of Puritan Society
The Puritan movement gained significant traction in London and East Anglia, where a burgeoning professional class found itself struggling to balance its new urban lifestyle with the rigid teachings of the church. Life had once been about mere survival and supporting the family, but the influx of people moving to cities and taking on professional careers introduced new pressures. The rural community now had to farm for profit, supplying food and goods like wool to the growing cities. This shift also gave rise to a new class: the highwaymen. Church teachings suggested that charity should extend to the impoverished, even to these criminals. However, many merchants and members of the new professional class rejected this notion, aligning instead with the Puritan movement.
9. The Puritans and Pilgrims Were Distinctly Different
It's a common misconception that the Pilgrims and Puritans were one and the same, but they were actually two separate groups with fundamentally different beliefs. While the Pilgrims sought to sever all ties with the Anglican Church, the Puritans weren’t looking to completely break away. Their relationship with the Anglican Church was relatively peaceful, and many of its traditions were preserved in their new lives. Initially, the Pilgrims were part of a radical faction of Puritans called the Separatists. They believed the Church of England had become too worldly and corrupt, so they separated from it. After a period of living in the Netherlands, facing economic hardship and the threat of losing their cultural identity, they decided to journey to the New World. The Pilgrims held on to more medieval beliefs in astrology, folklore, and myths, while the Puritans embraced scientific discoveries and new knowledge.
8. The Puritans Were Pioneers in Science
While religion and science often seem to be in conflict, the Puritans saw them as complementary. The oldest university in the United States, Harvard, was founded by the Puritans. Originally established to teach religious doctrine, the curriculum soon expanded to embrace secular subjects. The Puritans believed that studying science and nature brought them closer to God. By understanding His creations more deeply, they felt they honored Him. To know the inner workings of His world was considered a sign of being in His grace.
7. Puritan Women Were Exceptionally Literate
At a time when education for women was rare, many Puritan women were not only literate but also managed most household, financial, and legal matters. Though they were considered inferior to men due to the doctrine of original sin, women played a vital role in their homes—particularly as teachers. It was believed that a well-read, literate mother was key to raising pious children, who would grow into responsible citizens. Some Puritan women even made significant financial decisions when their husbands were away. This led to suspicion about their power, making their education both empowering and controversial. The dual nature of their roles is reflected in names found in Massachusetts Bay colony census records, such as Silence, Be Fruitful, Comfort, Hopestill, Fear, and Prudence, all reflecting the virtues valued by their parents.
6. Preachers in the Past Were Dull and Monotonous
In the early 1600s, Puritans began distancing themselves from the established churches and the monotonous, long sermons they believed failed to truly represent their deep religious convictions. They sought leaders who not only had the zeal and passion they felt their faith deserved but also were knowledgeable about the latest reformist ideas of the time. Over time, these groups broke away from traditional methods of worship and formed their own communities. They referred to themselves as “visible saints,” eventually leading the Puritan migration to the New World.
5. Puritans Had No Problem With Alcohol
When the Puritans set out to establish Harvard University, one of their first projects was to create a brewery to ensure that both faculty and students had ample beer to keep them content. Puritans didn't just brew alcohol from traditional ingredients like hops and barley, but also used carrots, tomatoes, onions, beets, and even corn silk. Prominent Puritan leaders like Increase Mather and his son Cotton Mather regarded alcohol as a divine gift. Increase Mather believed wine, in particular, should be savored and enjoyed, though he warned against excess, as overindulgence was considered a misuse of God’s gift. His son, Cotton, took the view even further, seeing alcohol as beneficial spiritually, nutritionally, and medicinally, but he too cautioned against the dangers of intoxication.
4. Not All Puritans Agreed with the Salem Witch Trials
The tragic events surrounding the Salem witch trials have long been used to paint the Puritans as unwavering religious extremists. However, this portrayal is not entirely accurate. Cotton Mather, a Boston minister and descendant of a distinguished line of religious and political leaders, was in his twenties during the trials. Although he believed in witchcraft and considered possession to be a sign of the devil’s influence, he also opposed key aspects of the trials. Mather notably rejected the use of spectral evidence in court, a stance that was largely ignored and played a major role in convicting the accused. Before the trials, Mather, a supporter of new medical practices like the smallpox vaccination, had invited the allegedly possessed Goodwin girls into his home for observation. His notes on their behavior, originally seen as evidence of witchcraft, later became foundational in the study of clinical hysteria.
3. Religious Freedom Didn’t Equal Religious Tolerance
We often hear that the Puritans left England in search of a land where religious freedom was guaranteed for all. However, this notion is somewhat misleading, as the Puritans' understanding of religious freedom didn’t encompass the right for everyone to worship as they pleased. For them, it meant they were free to practice religion according to their clergy’s rules, and anyone who disagreed with them was seen as a heretic or heathen. The idea that America was founded on the belief in religious liberty for all is a distortion—Puritans believed their way was the only correct one, and dissent was not tolerated. Those with differing views—whether theological or even in regards to acceptable reading material—were often cast out of their communities. Anne Hutchinson, a Puritan midwife in the 1630s, was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for hosting theological discussions that deviated from the official Puritan stance and for reading sermons that weren’t approved by Puritan ministers. This more restrictive version of religious freedom presents a very different picture of the founding of America.
2. Puritans Advocated for the Separation of Church and State
Having lived under England’s system where the king held both political and religious authority, the Puritans called for a clear separation of church and state. In their new society, high-ranking church officials were prohibited from holding political office. Unlike in England, the government had no power to remove ministers from their church positions, even if they were convicted of a secular crime. However, church matters did intersect with the state in certain ways. The government had the authority to create new churches, and a portion of public taxes was allocated to fund religious institutions.
1. Puritans Didn’t Only Wear Black
Contrary to the typical image of Puritans wearing only plain black clothing, they actually wore a variety of colors. While black was common, especially for clergy members, the Puritans also utilized various vegetable dyes to create a wide range of colors for their clothing. Dresses, hats, and other garments could be dyed in shades of yellow, red, green, blue, and, for the wealthiest, even purple. Bright colors were a symbol of social status, with the upper class often adorning themselves in rich purples and vibrant reds, demonstrating their ability to afford expensive dyes and fabrics. In the Massachusetts Bay colony, there were even laws regulating who could wear what colors, and only those with estates worth over £200 could wear whatever they desired, often importing the latest European fashions. Meanwhile, figures like John Winthrop were known for wearing dozens of imported scarlet coats. These trends also challenge the common misconception about Native Americans who interacted with the Puritans. Due to trade, many Native Americans had adopted European-style clothing by the end of the 17th century, leaving behind their traditional fur and skin garments.
