Essay Sample on Social Norms in Colonial America

Introduction

Each community composes what one historian/scholar has established as "criterion barrier," which created the norms between beliefs and standards accepted by a group and those that rebuke these applications. Such a system was a fact in Colonial America as well as New England in the 17th century (Michals, 2015). For years there have been heated debates over the criterion barriers; thus, forcing believers to foster progressive community objectives against the opponents to establish fear on the politic body. Research stated that the Puritans who traveled and settled in New England in the 1930s did not come to America to promote religious autonomy, but to achieve spiritual freedom from the church and civil officials in England who denied them the pursuit of their faith as per their belief in God (Clark & Schlesinger, 2000). Moreover, were several religious conflicts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony since the Puritan's DOGMA was defended with uncertain hostility (Clark & Schlesinger, 2000). Such hostility was directed to free-thinkers who spoke their minds and beliefs in such a community. Some of the free-thinkers in Massachusetts Bay were Anne Hutchinson and Rodger Williams (Encyclopedia, 1993). Therefore the paper analyzes Anne Hutchinson a religious freedom fighter who challenged the preaching of Puritan leaders about the methods to reach God. Anne believed that it is through an individual's belief and intuition to be closer to God, not through good works. Anne's religious movements planted the seed for emphasis on the rights of religious freedom.

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Summary of Mrs. Hutchinson's Life

Anne Marbury Hutchison was born in England to Mr. and Mrs. Marbury. She spent most of her part of life in Lincolnshire, where the father was a dissident minister. In 1612, she got married to William Hutchinson who was renounced merchant and from a wealthy family, and they had fifteen children. Anne grew up in a society dominated by men (Michals, 2015). The women were subjected to less formal education but were influenced by her husband and Reverend John Cotton, who were avid learners and thinkers (Clark & Schlesinger, 2000). Therefore, Anne became free-thinker, specifically, in a spiritual context. Besides, the Hutchinson's were influenced by Cotton's perception of religious freedom by joining religious dissidents in Massachusetts, leading them to relocate to the same area due to its religious freedom (Encyclopedia, 1993). At the age of 43, Anne arrived in Boston, and her personality and profession as a midwife made her establish strong relations with the locals (Michals, 2015). Her ties at that time made her hold the meeting in her home to discuss Cotton's approach of spiritual salvation (Wilson, 1996). William's perception of her wife was that of pride. He adored how she rebuked the teaching of the Puritan practice that emphasized excellent works were the sign of God's blessings and grace. Nonetheless, she became a threat to masculine leadership, also known as the theological Bay Colony authority (Stille, 2006). Indeed, her practice was a disturbance to religious leaders that later transformed into a political issue. She was sued for defiance of gender obligations; for example, she was accused of taking the role of men in her religious practice (Michals, 2015).

Anne's trial was termed as one involving criminal charges since she spoke and taught men in public, specifically, on religious doctrines. Nonetheless, her meeting and practices were condemned by Governor John Winthrop, who believed that her sex made her unworthy and unclean to lead spiritual practices (Wilson, 1996). In her defense, Anne challenged the entire allegation using the scriptures, but depicting the threat she caused, she was attacked in social norms that her position in a family was that or the husband than of the wife (Mass Moments, 1638). In other terms, her primary offense was fighting against feminism that was practiced in Massachusetts during that period. Anne's defensive mechanism promoted her scope of intelligence and well-oriented knowledge about the scriptures (Bradford & Winthrop, 1638). Contrary, the magistrates were threatened with such awareness reframing her intentions to lecturing them on their duties (Mass Moments, 1638). After two days of responding to the allegations, and no verdict passed on her crime since the magistrates did not find a means of punishing her, Anna eventually convicted herself by stating that her knowledge and understanding of the Bible scriptures and the truth were because of God's revelation (Bradford & Winthrop, 1638). The magistrates took the opportunity and claimed that her teaching was false and was banished from the Puritan religious practice jurisdiction (Mass Moments, 1638). Anne and her family left Massachusetts Bay in 1638 and relocated to a much autonomous community established by Roger Williams. After the death of William Hutchinson, she moved to New Amsterdam.

Mr. Hutchinson Perspective of Mrs. Hutchinson

According to the review/summary provided in the second and third paragraphs of the paper, Mr. Hutchinson came from a reputable family with the finances to purchase his family home in Massachusetts Bay. Moreover, he was a follower of Cotton's Biblical presentation and theological ideas on salvation. Such a relationship promotes that fact that Mr. Hutchison never underestimated his wife. Next, the husband and Cotton were free thinkers who relied on the scripts of the Bible to make decisions and guide others. Anne later developed such a trait after her family moved to Massachusetts Bay. The idea was on the fact that the bond that made the family bound together was the teachings of Cotton, specifically on salvation as a blessing from God's grace. Next, during Anne's trial on the offense of "crime," opposing the leadership and practice of the Massachusetts magistrates who claimed that she was more of a husband than a wife. During her advocacy on teaching the meaning of true salvation and getting the attention of numerous people, both men, and women, there were no complaints from the husband on her practice. In other terms, the husband was supportive and hypothetically attended these meetings which were held at his home; therefore, her being prosecuted for teaching the population which was regarded as a crime against Paul's commandments, was not a big issue to Mr. Hutchinson. Lastly, the husband agreed to move to her to the Plantation established by Rodger Williams as a sign of supporting her.

Conclusion

Anne Hutchinson was a daughter, wife, mother, midwife and a spiritual leader in the Colonial time who challenged Massachusetts Puritan authorities. Anne preached about the gender inequalities of women and disagreed upon the belief that the role of good works as a sign of God's grace. Soon Anne's popularity and her preaching threatened the Puritan leaders, and Anne was banished from the colony. Anne Hutchison and the family relocated to Rhode Island a more liberal state. Moreover, her husband was supportive of her practice as a wife, spiritual leader, and midwife. Lastly, the Hutchinson family was great followers of Cotton who believed in true salvation as a gift from God and not the Puritan belief.

References

Bradford, W., & Winthrop, J. (1638, April 11). Letter from William Bradford to John Winthrop, 11 April 1638. Letter from William Bradford to John Winthrop, 11 April 1638. Bay Colony, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Historical Society

Clark, B., & Schlesinger, A. (2000). Anne Hutchinson: Religious Leader. Infobase Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=wzuk_4en4xgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Anne+Hutchinson:+Religious+Leader&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivm8ikk9rjAhUHQhoKHaSmAjEQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Anne%20Hutchinson%3A%20Religious%20Leader&f=falseEncyclopedia. (1993). Excerpt from the trial Of Anne Hutchinson. Retrieved from https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/excerpt-trial-anne-hutchinson

Mass Moments. (1638, March 22). Anne Hutchinson Banished. Retrieved from https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/anne-hutchinson-banished.html

Michals, D. (2015). Anne Hutchinson (ca. 1591-1642). Retrieved from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/anne-hutchinson

Stille, D. (2006). Anne Hutchinson: Puritan protester. Capstone. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=CpX-3Cyn9D4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Anne+Hutchinson&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9hvrukdrjAhUpUxUIHTkKB4MQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Anne%20Hutchinson&f=falseWilson, P. (1996). Childbirth: Midwifery theory and practice. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=0b2wJbU6RCIC&pg=PA178&dq=How+William+Hutchinson+characterised+Anne+Hutchinson&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZldroktrjAhUKQxUIHZnSA-MQ6AEILjAB