Who were the Puritans?
Q: Who were the Puritans?
A: The Puritans were a group of English-speaking Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who thought that the English Reformation had not gone far enough. They also did not agree with some of the things the Church of England did.
Q: What was their way of life and set of beliefs called?
A: Their way of life and set of beliefs was called Puritanism.
Q: What were some important parts of Puritanism?
A: Some important parts of Puritanism included piety (obeying religious rules), dressing simply, and living a modest life. They also believed that every person needed to understand the Bible in his own way, and they tried to live by its teachings in every way.
Q: How did they try to be spiritually pure?
A: The Puritans tried to be spiritually pure by doing God's will (what God wanted) so that they could be rewarded with happiness in the future.
Q: What reforms did they make in their churches and societies?
A: The Puritans made reforms, or changes, in their own churches and societies such as making preaching very important, using as little ritual and decoration as possible, and emphasizing Hell in sermons.
Q: Why did many groups emigrate to New England?
A: Many groups emigrated to New England so that they could start their own societies there where they could practice Puritanism the way they wanted without interference from other religions or governments.
Q: What is an example of an important work written by a Puritan?
A: An example of an important work written by a Puritan is John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress".
