Trial of Anne Hutchinson Flashcards
Year(s)
1637
Puritans
Travelled to New England to practice their faith free of persecution. Wanted to create a perfect society.
Indulgences
A payment one could make to the church that would forgive sins and lessen time in purgatory
Calvinism & Predestination
Calvinism came out of the Protestant Reformation, created by John Calvin. Belief that God predetermines who goes to heaven, and nothing can be done to change it. Puritans are a subset of Calvinism. They feel no one deserves salvation, just live your life, resist temptation, and look for signs you were chosen
Conversion & Visible Saints
Conversion is the moment when you feel God’s grace and realize you are predestined for heaven. You announce it to the congregation and if they accept it, you become a visible saint.
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Puritans settled there led by prosperous puritan lawyer John Winthrop. They were puritans but not separatists, and believed the Anglican church could be reformed by example.
John Winthrop
A prosperous puritan lawyer and minister who led the Massachusetts Bay Colony as Governor
“A Model of Christian Charity”
A famous sermon written by Winthrop that introduced the idea of New England being a “city on a hill”. He felt they were creating a new Israel and God was with them
Great and General Court
The legislature of Massachusetts Bay Colony, it was the only civil/criminal court. Run by Governor John Winthrop, 8 assistants, and 31 prominent men from 14 settlements who were elected, but had to be visible saints. They both made and judged the laws.
Doctrine of “Just Price”
The correct price an object should cost, meant to balance between making some profit and not being greedy. Those thought to not charge just price could be tried for “wicked capitalism”
Anne Hutchinson
Born in England 1591 as one of 13, to a rebellious Anglican pastor who was arrested twice, and believed girls should be educated. Married William Hutchinson in 1612 and had 13 children. She agreed with John Cotton’s teachings about faith not works.
William Hutchinson
Husband of Anne Hutchinson. he supported her when she claimed to have revelations, and was a successful businessman both in England and Massachusetts
Society of Deference
A societal belief that everyone has their place, that you owed deference to those above you and protection to those below you. Good order was enforced with surveillance and punishments. Husbands had authority over households.
Coverture
A married woman’s identity is part of her husbands. Her property and rights pass to her husband, and men are not supposed to abuse their power.
Conventicles
Private gatherings to discuss scripture and pray, the Anglican church saw them as dens of radicals. Anne began leading some and gained a large following in both England and Massachusetts, claiming she got direct revelations. Meetings became more and more about her own beliefs.
Absolute Truth
Puritan belief that God’s words could only be found in one place: the bible
John Wilson
A leading minister, he stressed the need for preparation for grace. He said that living a godly life was a sign you might be chosen, which outraged Anne Hutchinson.
Doctrine of Preparationism
Idea that there were steps to take to get into a proper frame of mind to receive conversion if it were forthcoming. Anne Hutchinson hated this and called it a covenant of works.
“Covenant of Works”
What Anne claimed other ministers were preaching. The idea that you could work or take actions that would improve your chances of getting into heaven.
The Antinomian Controversy
The idea that those who had found grace knew better than others, and so did not have to follow laws they did not agree with.
5th Commandment
Honor thy father and mother, interpreted by puritans as obeying authority figures as well, especially the church, or your holy father.
Roger Williams
A puritan dissenter who believed in the separation of church and state, he was banished from Massachusetts and founded Rhode Island. He respected Native Americans and supported religious freedom. Anne Hutchinson and her followers joined his colony.
