The
Puritan Awakening (
1621-
1649) began with the English Parliament's Great Protestation. Upon the accession of James's son, the reformist urge turned radical and gained popular momentum. Seeking religious exile,
John Winthrop led a saving remnant of true believers to America. In England, this Puritan enthusiasm led to the
Long Parliament in 1640,
civil war, and the execution of
Charles I of England in 1649. In the new wilderness colonies, the experimental fervor receded, leaving isolated settlements seeking an enforceable moral orthodoxy.
Age Location in History:
See also: generation, Puritan
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