In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, we will be learning about the Puritans of early colonial America A.K.A. the Pilgrims! H.L. Mencken famously defined Puritanism as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” But what was romantic life like for the members of this notoriously straight-laced community? You might be surprised! Today, we’ll learn who the Puritans were, why sex and marriage were so important to them, and if they really were as prudish as everyone thinks.
Suggested Episodes:
Ep09 – Sex & Marriage: Slavery in Early America
Ep05 – Sex & Marriage: The Tudor Period
Sources:
Landrigan, Leslie. “The Puritan Divorce Allows Escape From the Chain of Matrimony.” New England Historical Society, New England Historical Society, 10 May 2019, www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/puritan-divorce-allows-escape-from-the-chain-of-matrimony/.
“Puritanism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 21 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Puritanism.
“Puritans of New England.” History of American Women, 2019, www.womenhistoryblog.com/2007/10/puritans-of-new-england.html.
“The Puritans Really Loved Having Sex.” New York Post, NYP HOLDINGS, INC, 21 Oct. 2016, nypost.com/2016/10/21/the-puritans-really-loved-having-sex/.
“The Puritans.” History, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/puritanism.
Wade, Lisa. “Before Love: Puritan Beliefs about Sex and Marriage.” The Society Pages, Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike, 15 Feb. 2013, thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/02/15/before-love-puritan-beliefs-about-marriage-and-procreation/.
