Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams
Religious Rebellion Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious beliefs that went against the church. Anne Hutchinson was banished from Boston by John Winthrop, and other members of the Boston church, for speaking out against the ministers and their sermons. Roger Williams was exiled from Salem by the members of the Salem Church for preaching his “four extreme positions” (NAAL, Volume A, 174), specifically stating that the New England churches should separate from the Church of England. In 1636, Hutchinson and Williams founded a colony named Providence Plantation, located in Rhode Island. Their colony was meant to serve as a safe place for those of differing religions and beliefs, to live free of persecution.
Anne Hutchinson and her husband, William, were devout followers of Cotton Mather, a Puritan preacher at the Second Church of Boston. She began holding meetings in her home to discuss Cotton Mather’s sermons and scriptures from the Bible. Her meetings grew to include both men and women, and she began to share her views on religion, which differed from the church. She believed that everyone had a “direct access to God” (Pilgrims), and that faith in Christ was all that was needed. She went on to say that God existed within, and that one did not have to rely on regular attendance to the church or complete knowledge of the Bible to experience God. She also went on to question the laws of predetermination. Hutchinson believed that if it was Gods will to punish those who sinned, it should not be up to the church to decide their punishment. Her meetings did not just include discussion on religion, but also included her thoughts against racism and Indian slavery. Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, was very displeased with her actions, and became her strongest opponent. He feared that she had drawn attention to too many members of the colony, and that anarchy against the
Anne Hutchinson and her husband, William, were devout followers of Cotton Mather, a Puritan preacher at the Second Church of Boston. She began holding meetings in her home to discuss Cotton Mather’s sermons and scriptures from the Bible. Her meetings grew to include both men and women, and she began to share her views on religion, which differed from the church. She believed that everyone had a “direct access to God” (Pilgrims), and that faith in Christ was all that was needed. She went on to say that God existed within, and that one did not have to rely on regular attendance to the church or complete knowledge of the Bible to experience God. She also went on to question the laws of predetermination. Hutchinson believed that if it was Gods will to punish those who sinned, it should not be up to the church to decide their punishment. Her meetings did not just include discussion on religion, but also included her thoughts against racism and Indian slavery. Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, was very displeased with her actions, and became her strongest opponent. He feared that she had drawn attention to too many members of the colony, and that anarchy against the
Bibliography: The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. 7th. A. New York: W W Norton & Co Inc, 2007. Print. "Pilgrims and Puritans: Background." American Studies @ The University of Virginia. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. . "Anne Hutchinson." Anne Hutchinson. 7 Oct. 2003. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. .