Paper

Julia Daulton

HIS 201

Writing Assignment 1

August 25, 2003

The Puritans held strong beliefs concerning their faith as well as their purpose in building a new community in a new world. The Puritans believed that Massachusetts Bay Colony was to be a holy mission. They were going to show the world how to lead a godly life. Puritans further believed that only by God's grace could someone be saved. Additionally, the colonists believed that they had entered into a contract with God; they were the new Israelites. Subsequently, the New England Puritans believed that it was necessary to have a conversion experience in order to receive God's grace. These views and high standards the Puritans held themselves and others to eventually caused conflict within the colony.

Anne Hutchinson was a member of the Antinomian sect, which believed that because grace was given by God alone they were not bound by the laws of man. Subsequently, they felt that they only had to answer to God. Anne Hutchinson routinely held meetings in her home where she expanded on the minister's sermons and eventually where she shared her own views on religion and the church's teachings.

In 1637 Anne Hutchinson was tried by the General Court for troubling the peace of the commonwealth and the church, holding a meeting that was condemned by the church, and associating with censured members of the colony. After being found guilty, she was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Anne Hutchinson was viewed as a threat for several reasons. Anne Hutchinson was a member of a group of people that the church founders believed threatened the doctrine they believed in and taught. Additionally, Anne was not a passive biding woman. Her strength of character was seen as an abomination. The colony's founders believed that women should be submissive to first their parents, and then to their husbands. The General Court felt that the Bible guided women to gentleness, submission, and household responsibilities. Also, the meetings that took place in Anne's home threatened the Genral Court. If the colonists did not follow the dictates of the ministers and leaders of the church and the community, the General Court believed the community would lose it cohesion.

In order to stop this