Whatchu know about Puritans?

      Throughout American history the Puritans have held a bad reputation of being unpleasant people. This was due to their abuse of many people because of their self righteous ways. Although their goal was to start anew in America to practice their own faith, their tyrannical and brutal methods of government and society proved to be a negative impact on the American dream, as they were more focused on their own "Puritan dream". Historical events, such as the Salem witchcraft trials, show that the Puritanical rule stripped citizens of their freedom, which I believe to be counter active to the American dream. The Puritans negative reputation is well merited in American history, as their new society was no better than the one many fled in coming to America.

      Upon settling in Massachusetts and forming the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the puritans, headed by John Winthrop, created a new society based upon their own beliefs. Unlike other immigrants coming to America the Puritans and Pilgrims were well educated people who were not desperately seeking a better life. They benefited from the American Dream by becoming masters of their own destiny, but had no contribution to it. Their strict laws prevented sinners from becoming successful in America, and instead shunned them from society with no correctional programs other than unjust prisoning and public humiliation. This, alongside with their complete lack of toleration for any of the Old World faiths, and anything that was in contrast to their own, do not coincide with the American dream that we know today.

     The Puritans simply wanted to establish a new community based on their own beliefs. However, because of their intolerable ways and arrogant mentality, they receive a poor reputation in our history. They believed that freedom caused men to become evil, which is a possibility, but not true in many case. They were also hypocritical, as they went against their beliefs of following authority by illegally purchasing land from Indians. They were no better than anyone else of the time, but their pompous self righteousness attaches them to the bitter reputation in which they rightfully hold today.