HIST 414 - The Puritans and Their World

FC SSCI WADV

4 credits
Perhaps no other group of utopian dreamers has had a more lasting effect on American identity than the early modern English reformers known as Puritans. Invoked by figures as diverse as Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Alexis de Tocqueville, Hillary Clinton, and Hugh Hefner, the Puritans have been portrayed as dour, uptight, and intolerant by some and intrepid, visionary, and progressive by others. But who were they and what did they believe? This seminar explores the Puritan movement from its origins in mid-sixteenth century England to its disintegration in late-seventeenth century America. We will focus both on its ideas and actions, including those pertaining to authority, the afterlife, Indigenous peoples, and slavery.