Puritan Pros And Cons

The Puritans who sought to gain liberty and fledfleed England and away from the oppression government on their own. In this case, it is strictly their job to achieve full religious liberty because the government is the reason that they wish to leave. The Puritans in England gained their name from the main cause of their movement which was to “purify” the church from its flaws. After years of denial from the heads of the church, Puritans finally realized they needed to take action and gain their liberty on their own. Their plan is to successfully achieve a better church in the New World and England would imitate their perfect church.

While still in England, many monarchs take steps that affect the Puritans in both positive and negative ways. In the late 1500s, he creates the Protestant Church of England, which is a step in the right direction for Puritans. Henry’s action might seem like he is giving religious freedom to his citizens; however, Henry forces all his subjects to convert to

the Church of England, which is at the time practically Rome but annulments are legal. All in all, Henry VIII injures and aids the Puritan movement because he did deny the Roman Church but he also made his church the only church in England.
Directly following King Henry VIII’s reign, Queen Elizabeth I attempted to keep a neutral stance towards the churches. Under her leadership, she made the Protestantism the main church of England and restricted any other public worshipping. Puritans were extremely upset and wanted more changes. Rev. Pronk said in an article about the history of the Puritans “[Queen Elizabeth] believed that...she must resist what she felt was dogmatism and extremism of the Puritans”. Elizabeth had the opportunity to give liberty to Puritan but refused to make any major changes for Puritans because she was in favor of the Protestants.
Next in the line of monarchs comes James I of Scotland and he hates all Puritans and their traditions. So, he constantly bothers the Puritans and many other religions. This causes opposition between the king and everyone else. James’ policies and decisions do not warrant any action until they are advanced by his son, Charles I. Charles I continues to harass everyone who denies him as head of the church and state. Eventually, Puritans and other religions revolt and behead Charles I. These Puritans wanted their liberty so much that they would not listen to the king’s terrible policies and rose up to gain freedom from the overbearing government.
The Puritans include many strong individuals whom all influence the movement in a positive way. In 1382, John Wycliffe makes a new translation of the bible that causes him to be majorly hated for. This translation is the foundation for Puritan movement is the first step towards reformation of the entire church. Wycliffe, one individual from centuries prior to the Puritan movement, unintentionally begins pushing the them to moving to the New World to seek their own liberty.
After Charles I gets beheaded, the Puritans take over control of the Parliament and put strong restrictions on any other religions, just like what the Catholics did to the Puritans under the monarchy in 1649. Next, Oliver Cromwell is the first major Puritan leader with a large influence on England. Cromwell takes up power in place of the ruined monarchs; he gives all religious freedom to the Puritans. Cromwell, only one person, wishes for religious freedom for his Puritans and uses his control over England to give it to them. Cromwell has a fully positive impact on the Puritan movement until his death in 1658. Beginning in 1630 to the time of Cromwell’s death, almost 20,000 Puritans moved to America because they had freedom and the ability to do so.
Thomas Cartwright is a theological philosopher who needs a change in the church, which thus turns into a reformation and a strong power. He writes letters to the church leaders explaining to them that the present-day English church is just as weak as it is at the beginning of the church. When his thoughts are not shared with the leaders, Cartwright decides to gain his liberty in Puritan traditions. He, like most Puritans, only wants change for the good of all people but since that is not granted, he must seek his own liberty without the government’s or church’s aid.
Puritans clearly needs liberty from the oppressive government and they finally achieve it by fleeing to the New World.

An example of Puritan liberty is in the early 1600s Puritans captured and imprisoned Pilgrims just because they can. The Puritans are so conformed to harassment that once they escape it, they use their power to harass another group of people. Jonathan Edwards is a Puritan who grew up in New England and lives by the Puritan traditions, like the belief that after death there is only heaven and hell. They also think that all good is directly from God and he is the reason for all happiness. Lastly, the Salem Witch Trials are proof that the Puritans gain liberty in the New World. Sarah Good is burnt at the stake by her community because of Puritan free will that was granted when they left England. Puritans would not have been able to believe freely this way if they stay in England because the monarchies hate change and will do anything to keep their

power.
The Puritan religion and its followers solely had to seek their own liberty without the aid of the government of England. The oppression government is the reason for the Puritans escape so the government is no use to help Puritans gain liberty.