USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -When things went wrong in Puritan society, whether it was disease, natural disasters, or other catastrophes, Puritans believed that the Devil was working among them and that God was punishing them. The constant fear of the Devil infiltrating society and of God punishing the colonists contributed to much paranoia.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Puritans feared the Devil and God equally and “they believed the Devil was real, and had the intent to Page 2 C6-18 2 influence and harm” (Mills 16).

Detailed explanation-3: -The Puritans believed God had chosen a few people, “the elect, ” for salvation. The rest of humanity was condemned to eternal damnation. But no one really knew if he or she was saved or damned; Puritans lived in a constant state of spiritual anxiety, searching for signs of God’s favor or anger.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Puritans were members of a religious reform movement known as Puritanism that arose within the Church of England in the late 16th century. They believed the Church of England was too similar to the Roman Catholic Church and should eliminate ceremonies and practices not rooted in the Bible.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Puritans were a fearful, strict, and highly religious group. The Puritans feared the worst things to happen to themselves and to the community. By fearing many things, they were well prepared. They took extreme caution in everything that they did.