Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Puritanism In Mid-Seventeenth Century England, Matthew J. Buchanan

Scholars Week

England experienced great societal changes in the seventeenth-century. Deep rooted tensions between the monarchy and Parliament cumulated in a Civil War and the decapitation of a king. In the end, an oppressive Puritan led regime would take control of English politics. This presentation seeks to answer the question of what characteristics of the Puritans allowed them to achieve increased political power? A review of both primary and secondary sources demonstrates that the rise of Puritan political influence was brought about by combining the already divisive climate of English society with the Puritan’s unique religious ideology, political preferences, and socioeconomic standing.