More handpicked essays just for you.
Women's role in american society throughout history
Womens contributions to colonial america
Influence of puritanism and american society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Anne Hutchinson, a woman who stood up for her religious rights, even against men, was one of the most influential people during her time. Anne Hutchinson was exiled shortly after she was in an argument with John Winthrop, and 60 other people decided to tag along with her. This shows the impact Anne Hutchinson had. Those 60 people decided to give up everything to tag along with a women because they liked that she was sticking up for her religion. During Anne Hutchinson's time, no one could practice a different religion other than the Puritans religion, and Anne Hutchinson did it very boldly and bravely and ended up making a big difference in religious and women's rights and equalities.
In Anne Hutchinson’s time, there was a religion in Massachusetts
…show more content…
that everyone had to follow, and if you didn’t you would be severely punished. According to Mass Movements, the Massachusetts Puritans thought “Catholics were destined for eternal damnation.” They believed that their religion was for everyone and that no one should practice another religion. The Massachusetts Bay also killed all Jesuit Priests in the area as a way of getting rid of them. Rather than telling them to leave, they just killed them without giving them an option. The two examples above, are only two of the many challenges that Anne Hutchinson had to deal with. With all of the rules about religion in Massachusetts, Anne Hutchinson decided not to back down and to believe what she believed in.
Hutchinson would hold religious meetings at her house, and many others would come. According to Biography.com, 60-80 people would come every meeting to practice her religion. She held public meetings rather then privately practicing her religion, because she knew there were others who were scared to practice their religion publicly. As a section from Mass Movements says, “When she held prayer meetings attended by both men and women, the authorities were alarmed; but what really disturbed them was her criticism of the colony's ministers and her assertion that a person could know God's will directly” (Mass Movements) That quote explains how she tell people about God’s will when the Puritan ministers tell them exactly what God thinks and does. It also explains how she criticised the ministers because she thought they were crazy for thinking that there was only one good and right …show more content…
religion. Anne Hutchinson was later exiled for her religious behavior, however she left a large impact on the subject of religious rights and women's rights.
Today in Massachusetts, religion is free by choice, meaning anyone can choose their religion and practice it however they want. Hutchinson played a large role in making sure that happened. As United States History states, “Attendance at these meetings grew rapidly.” (United States History) This shows that many other people in the Boston area were realizing that they could have freedom of religion under Anne Hutchinson, and they decided to practice another religion that they agreed in. As people started to like this religion Hutchinson was teaching, they started to transfer from the Puritan religion causing the amount of Puritan religious followers to drop. As the numbers dropped, over centuries the forced Puritan religion got weaker and weaker which made it harder and harder to force religion upon a large group of people which ties back to how nowadays people can have freedom of religion. Hutchinson was also a big factor in the shift of women’s rights. Hutchinson was put on trial because of her acts towards religion and also because she was a women teaching men. The Puritan men believed that women could not hold the power of teaching religion, especially upon men. During the trial, Hutchinson exclaimed: “Do you think it not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court?” (United States History)
Hutchinson is yelling at the court because she doesn’t believe it to be right that women can’t teach men and that the freedom of religion is not available. Obviously women’s rights didn’t change much until later on, but her along with a select few other women made a big differences in women’s rights and equalities In conclusion, Anne Hutchinson acted upon the religion rules in a way that no other had ever done before. If Hutchinson didn’t do what she did, who knows what the world would be like today. She made such a large impact on women’s rights and religious rights, that if she didn’t, we still may be unable to pick our religion freely. People have argued that she is the most effective women to ever live in the Boston area, would you agree?
Anne Hutchinson was a remarkable colonial woman who first came to Massachusetts in the fall of 1634. She is less remembered for her contributions in the new world as a wife, mother of fourteen, and midwife to many than for her eventual trial and banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I was interested in writing a paper on a colonial woman and chose Anne Hutchinson after a "Google" search turned up a very good review on a recent book about her life. I have been intrigued by the fact that the Puritans came to America to practice their religion freely, yet allowed no freedom to question their doctrine. The book, American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans, is an excellent examination of this lack of religious freedom and the life of a woman that intersects it.
Literary historicism, in the context of this discussion, describes the interpretation of literary or historical texts with respect to the cultural and temporal conditions in which they were produced. This means that the text not only catalogues how individuals respond to their particular circumstances, but also chronicles the movements and inclinations of an age as expressed in the rhetorical devices of its literature. Evaluating the trial of Anne Hutchinson within such a theoretical framework means speculating on the genesis of her theological beliefs with recourse to prevailing theories of gender, class, and interpretation. Because texts are self-contained spheres of discourse, nuanced interpretations of them can be undertaken with greater assiduity than in the case of individuals whose private experiences remain largely concealed from the interpreter's knowledge. A historical analysis of Anne Hutchinson herself is hence, in the present discussion, secondary to the analysis of how she comes across in textual discourse as a palimpsest of seventeenth century gender controversy.
Upon her arrival to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634, Anne Hutchinson was a much respected member of her community. As time went on, her dealings with the religion began to be...
...s were introduced. American women are truly lucky to have had Abigail Adams. Abigail Adams' efforts have given education for females. Charles W. Akers, the author of Abigail Adams an American Women, as well as I believe that if Abigail hadn't spoken out on these subjects, who else would have? Even though she did not accomplish her crusades, she planted the idea of her goal and objective into other minds. For her courageous foresight, women now have equal rights. Abigail was a talented letter writer, a supporter of her husband in his long civic career, and the mother of the most significant family dynasty in American public life. Abigail Smith Adams was the first fully liberated woman in American history and an inspiration to women for generations to come.
Religion was a huge part of law, the court, and the state in Puritan New England. The Puritan church was mixed with the state and often they seemed to almost combine. Laws were a combination of the state and religion (Yale 9). Referring to church and state, David Yale wrote, “The distinction is far from clear” (Yale 9). This was in contrast to the Puritan founders who origionally wanted church and state to be separate, but able to work together (Yale 9). The Church had so much power in the state, it ultimately organized the civil government (Yale 9). If a person would rebel against the government and criticize or defy the Puritan rule, it would be considered a sin against God. Religion also had a association with questioning in the courts and religion was part of the prosecution. An example of this is during the examination of Sarah Good by John Hathorne. The examination starts off with this text. “(Hathorne) Sarah Good what evil spirit have you fimiliarity with. (Sarah Good) None. (H) Have you made no contact with the devil. (S G) Good answered no. (H) WHy doe you hurt these children. (S G) I doe not hurt them. I scorn it. (H) Who doe you imploy then to doe it. (S G) No creature but I am falsely accused” (Linder umck.edu). This shows a trait in Hawthorne's prosecution style where he...
The male Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony did not like women to think that they were above them, such evidence is the trial of Anne Hutchinson at Massachusetts Bay in 1637. The document is a transcripts of Anne’s trial. Anne Hutchinson was a rebel during her time and she was fond of the concept of Antinomianism, if your not as fond with this concept,let’s break it down “Antinomiansim” is a greek word it is formed from the words “anti” and “nomos”, “anti” means against and “nomos” means law when combined they form antinomianism which means in its simplest form, against the law or against laws. The transcript was most likely at first kept just for records but eventually it was kept not only to preserve history but to capture the human spirit.
The “Trial of Anne Hutchinson” written on 1637, was during the period where women are to subject to the man. Hutchinson being a woman did affect her trial. This is seen in the trial with Governor John Winthrop. He mentioned that she had done things that are not “fitting” for her sex. Not only did she get into trouble with the churches, who were headed by man, but was also accused for promoting her opinions that salvation is God’s gift that does not need to be earned. On the other hand from John Winthrop’s “Speech to the Massachusetts General Court” in July 3, 1645, he describes about two kinds of liberty, natural and moral. “Natural” liberty was liberty to do good or evil; it is based on one’s opinion. This form of liberty is less inconsistent
paved the way for religious freedom. She was a great leader in the cause for
Susan B. Anthony is a one of a kind lady. She didn’t care what people thought of her. She wanted to show the world what she believed in. Susan B. Anthony played a major role in women’s suffrage by being involved in temperance movements when she was young, being a part of the National Woman Suffrage Association and the Nineteenth Amendment was passed fourteen years after her death.
For many years people fought and struggled for change to make the world a better place. People struggle for change to feel equal by actively fighting for human rights, they urge people to abide by the rule of law to accomplish these equal rights, and they fight for a change in the future to ensure that the work they have done is not destroyed by the younger generations. Thanks to the hard work of our ancestors, the freedom that we are granted benefits many people around the world today. If it were not for their struggle we would not have some of the privileges we have today, such as the right to vote. Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells are both exemplary examples of advocates for the women’s suffrage. They marched and protested for the right to vote which eventually led to the 19th amendment. It took a very strong leader to accomplish this goal, a person that believed in the rule of law and a change for the future. These women are just two examples of people who were self motivated for a change. Many other people struggled for a change in what they believed in,and if they fought hard enough their efforts
Despite her beliefs threatening both civil and ecclesiastical law, Hutchinson’s presence was not immediately removed from the community, for she “appeared again; (she had been licensed by the court, in regard she had given hope of her repentance, to at Mr. Cotton’s house that both he and Mr. Davenport might have more opportunity to deal with her)”. In dragging out Mrs. Hutchinson’s case, she still continued to defy the wishes of the church, “much to the astonishment of all the assembly”, displaying another instance of tolerance because she still lingers in the community. “So that after much time and many arguments had been spent to bring her to see her sin, but all in vain, the church with one consent cast her out”.
Anne Hutchinson has long been seen as a strong religious dissenter who paved the way for religious freedom in the strictly Puritan environment of New England. Another interpretation of the controversy surrounding Anne Hutchinson asserts that she was simply a loving wife and mother whose charisma and personal ideas were misconstrued to be a radical religious movement. Since this alleged religious movement was led by a woman, it was quickly dealt with by the Puritan fathers as a real threat. Whatever her motives, she was clearly a great leader in the cause of religious toleration in America and the advancement of women in society. Although Anne Hutchinson is historically documented to have been banished as a religious dissenter, the real motive for her persecution was that she challenged the traditional subordinate role of women in Puritan society by expressing her own religious convictions.
Anne Hutchinson challenged the traditional role of women in the Puritan society through her opposing religious beliefs. Anne Hutchinson was most likely not the first woman to have her own thoughts. She was simply the first to act on them. Anne Hutchinson was born on or about July17, 1591 in Alford, Licolnshire, England. She was the daughter of Reverend Francis Marbury. Rev. Marbury spoke out that many of the ordained ministers in the Church of England were unfit to guide people's souls. For this act of defiance, he was put in jail for one year. Anne read many of her father's books on theology and religion. Much of Anne's independence and willingness to speak out was due to her father's example. Anne admired her father for his defiance of traditional church principles. Then in 1612 she married William Hutchinson. Together they had 15 children. In 1634 she and her husband moved to Boston. Here Anne began holding informal church meetings in her home discussing the pastor's services and also preaching her beliefs to her followers. Threatened by meetings she held in her Boston home, the clergy charged Hutchinson with hersey. An outspoken female in a male hierarchy, Hutchinson had little hope that many would speak in her defense, and she was being tried by the General Court. In 1636 she was charged with hersey and banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony. Several years later when she moved to New York she was killed in an Indian attack. Anne challenged the Puritan clergy.
In the history of women’s rights, and their leaders, few can compare with the determination and success of Lucy Stone. While many remember Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony for being the most active fighters for women’s rights, perhaps Stone is even more important. The major goal for women in this time period was gaining women’s suffrage. That is what many remember or associate with the convention at Seneca Falls.
... Her influence combined with other women fighting and the spirit of rebellion already set in men spiked women's interests in their rights and made them want to struggle for their privileges. Before the American Revolution, women did not realize just how unfairly men were treating them until they experienced working, managing a household, and life without their husbands. It made them aware of their place in society and many wondered just why they were inferior to men at that time. That American Revolution was what led up to the women's rights movement of 1848 and without it, who knows when women would have ever revolted against this unjust behavior and obtained the right to vote in 1920.