Just as it is impossible to separate American literature from the political turmoil of its day, it is equally important to place it in the context of religious friction. Even now in our country, politics and religion are often inextricable. Understanding the reasoning behind historic, religious disagreements is a crucial step in understanding the impact of literature and rhetoric on colonial America, as well as its continued inspiration for many of our nation's current leaders.
The Spanish InquisitionHeaded by Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish Inquisition targeted and persecuted Jews and non-Catholic worshipers. In 1492, the same year Columbus was sent on his mission to the new world, the two rulers expelled the Jews from Spain.
The Protestant Reformation
The Reformation was a European movement aimed at reforming the Roman Catholic Church. The Church had kept its power by acting as the necessary medium through which people could get to heaven. In 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk, challenged the doctrines of the church by posting his 95 theses to the church doors in Wittenberg. His main claim: that God was all-powerful, that man was powerless, and that no man could facilitate another's salvation. This belief undermined the power of the Catholic Church and established Protestant roots in Europe.
Henry VIII and DivorceHenry VIII ruled England from 1509 until 1547. After his first wife failed to produce a male heir to the throne, Henry demanded a divorce. However, the pope refused to invalidate the marriage, forcing Henry to rewrite some rules. In order to obtain his divorce, Henry put himself above the pope and made himself head of the Church of England. As a result, the pope excommunicated him, and England made its first move toward becoming a Protestant nation. With this dramatic turn of events, the country's previously persecuted Protestants were excited to see their country take Martin Luther's side in the Protestant Reformation.
Puritans and SeparatistsWhile many were initially happy with the Church of England's break from the Catholic Church, by the turn of the 17th century, many Protestants could no longer tolerate sharing remnants of the old religion, such as vestments, hierarchies within the church, or even stained glass windows with the lingering images of the old beliefs. Some (the Puritans) wanted to purify the church of these things, but keep ties with the church; others (the Separatists) did not think this was possible and simply wanted to separate themselves from the church entirely. Here, a division between Puritans and Separatists was formed.
Individual Interpretation of ScriptureContinuing a legacy of religious dissent, Massachusetts Bay colonist, Anne Hutchinson, sparked controversy for her "heretical" beliefs, which threatened to undermine the religious "social glue" of Winthrop's carefully cultivated Puritan work ethic. Unlike governor John Winthrop, who preached a collective responsibility in keeping salvation, Hutchinson believed that faith alone was enough to ensure one's salvation. As Hutchinson shared her views with a growing following, Winthrop became threatened by Hutchinson's sway over the colonists. As a result, Winthrop and the elected leaders of the community exiled Hutchinson from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.