Read Works
Read Works: Pilgrims and Puritans Who Were the Pilgrims?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Pilgrims who eventually made their new home in America. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Open Door Team
Open Door Web Site: Massachusetts
Read about the colony the Puritans made, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a place Puritans could practice their own religion freely.
The History Cat
The History Cat: History of Colonial America: Witchcraft in Salem
Describes what happened in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 when a group of young girls began to have visions and were accused and tried for witchcraft.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
Background information about the literature of the Colonial period in American history. Discussions of capitalism, Puritan theology, and stewardship as found in the thought and literature of the period.
Other
Religious Tolerance in Colonial America
Religious tolerance was an important but often misunderstood contribution of the colonial era. Tolerance developed only after time. Groups such as the Pilgrims and Puritans who left Europe to escape religious persecution often were...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: New England Colonies: Dissent in Massachusetts Bay
The Puritan clergy in Massachusetts Bay colony did not allow religious dissent. Read about the fate of colonists Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams who believed in religious freedom.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Salem Witchcraft Hysteria
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is an inferencing lesson to introduce the Salem Witch Trials used for teaching The Crucible. Students are presumed to already have background on the Puritans.
Other
Architect of the Capitol: John Winthrop
A brief biography of Puritan leader John Winthrop and a photo his statue that stands in the Hall of Columns in the U.S. Capitol.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Divining America: Religion in American History
A collection of scholarly essays consisting of instructional guides accompanied by commentary. Designed to help teachers of American history bring students to a greater understanding of the role religion has played in the development of...
Other
Hillcrest High School: The Colonies Come of Age: The Commercial North [Pdf]
A chapter from a history text that looks at the Northern colonial economy, colonial town life, the immigrant groups who settled there, slavery in the North, the role of women, the Salem witchcraft trials, and the influence of the...
Other
Fine Arts Museum: Teachers' Guide to American Art
This guide focuses on twenty-four paintings from the impressive collection of American art housed at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. The earliest work, a portrait of the children of a Puritan family, dates from 1670. The last piece...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Gothic Undercurrents: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne is featured in this brief biography highlighting his Puritan family background which inspired his thought provoking writings of the nineteenth century. Click on "Nathaniel Hawthorne Activities" for related resources.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Colonial Literature: The Great Awakening
This lesson focuses on Johnathan Edwards and The Great Awakening, a movement to revival the Puritan religion. It features information about the Great Awakening and why in wasn't successful and a link to the sermon "Sinners in the Hands...
Syracuse University
Syracuse University: Map of New England, 17th Century
A map that shows the seventeenth-century migration routes of the Puritans from England to New England. Early population centers are designated as well as some interregional migrations.
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: English in Virginia
This Bibliomania site surveys the literary history of the English in colonial Virginia. Includes analysis of the work of Captain John Smith, William Strachey, and George Sandys. Links to other notes about early American literature.
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: Simonds History of American Literature
This site presents the full text of the "Simonds History of American Literature." This detailed reference book explores the literature in early colonial times, the eighteenth century, the beginning of the nineteenth century, the New...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Jonathan Edwards
This is a brief biography of seventeenth century minister and missionary Jonathan Edwards who documented his sermons. Click on "Jonathan Edwards Activities" for more resources.
Georgetown University
Georgetown Unversity: Edward Taylor
Very extensive site that contains information about Taylor's "major themes, historical perspectives, and personal issues" as well as poetic style, form, and artistic conventions. Contains analysis of "Huswifery," as well as other Taylor...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Charter of Massachusetts Bay 1629
Provides background information and the complete text of the charter of the Massachusetts Bay 1629.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: New England Articles of Confederation 1643
View the complete text of the New England Articles of Confederation 1643, an alliance of the English colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven.
University of Victoria (Canada)
Shakespeare's Life and Times: History and Politics
This section on the life and times of Shakespeare addresses the stories behind his 'histories'.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: English Civil War
An in-depth article regarding the English Civil Wars. The article discusses the events leading up to the war, the dispute between Charles II and Parliament, and details on the First, Second and Third Civil Wars.
University of Toronto (Canada)
University of Toronto: Selected Poetry of Anne Bradstreet
Biographical information about Anne Bradstreet's life. Includes details about her works and their publication history. Includes a brief bibliography and the text of eleven of her works.
University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma College of Law: The 1629 Charter of Massachusetts Bay
Complete text of the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1629.