The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson: The Woman Who Defied the Puritans

Anne Hutchinson was a religious dissenter who challenged the authority of the Puritan leaders in Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was a charismatic speaker and a skilled debater, and her ideas quickly gained a following. However, her views were considered heretical by the Puritan leaders, and she was eventually banished from the colony.

American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans

by Eve LaPlante

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2082 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	346 pages

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Early Life and Education

Anne Hutchinson was born in England in 1591. Her father was a Puritan minister, and she was raised in a strictly religious household. Hutchinson was a bright and inquisitive child, and she received a good education. She was particularly interested in theology, and she often engaged in religious debates with her father and other ministers.

Marriage and Family

In 1612, Hutchinson married William Hutchinson, a merchant. The couple had 15 children, and they lived in a large house in Boston.

Religious Dissent

Hutchinson began to question the Puritan orthodoxy in the early 1630s. She was particularly critical of the doctrine of predestination, which held that God had already chosen who would be saved and who would be damned. Hutchinson believed that all people had the potential for salvation, and she argued that individuals could choose to accept or reject God's grace.

Hutchinson's views quickly gained a following, and she soon became one of the most popular religious leaders in Massachusetts Bay Colony. She held meetings in her home, where she preached her ideas to large crowds. Hutchinson's charismatic speaking style and her ability to connect with people on a personal level made her a powerful force in the colony.

Conflict with the Puritan Leaders

The Puritan leaders were alarmed by Hutchinson's growing popularity. They feared that her ideas would undermine their authority, and they began to take steps to silence her.

In 1637, the Puritan leaders convened a synod to debate Hutchinson's views. Hutchinson was invited to speak at the synod, but she was not allowed to present her own case. The synod condemned Hutchinson's views as heretical, and she was ordered to recant her beliefs.

Hutchinson refused to recant, and she was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. She moved to Rhode Island, where she continued to preach her ideas. In 1643, Hutchinson was killed by a group of Native Americans during an attack on her settlement.

Legacy

Anne Hutchinson was a courageous woman who stood up for her beliefs in the face of persecution. Her ideas were considered heretical by the Puritan leaders, but they had a profound impact on the development of American religion.

Hutchinson's story is a reminder of the importance of religious freedom and the right to dissent. It is also a testament to the power of one individual to make a difference in the world.

Further Reading

* Anne Hutchinson * The Trial of Anne Hutchinson * Anne Hutchinson: The Rebellious Puritan Who Defied the Patriarchy

American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans

by Eve LaPlante

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2082 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	346 pages

FREE