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Drama of American History
Pilgrims and Puritans: 1620-1676
Recounts the religious, political, and social history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and its influence on our lives today
94 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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February 9, 2023This book is outdated. It reeks of white exceptionalism. It does not properly represent the indigenous peoples perspective or plight!
January 24, 2023
Helpful overview of this time in America, looking forward to the other books in this series.
January 22, 2020
Despite the relatively small numbers of people who were involved in the Pilgrim (hundreds) and Puritan (tens of thousands) migrations to New England and the lamentable present state of New England social culture, the Pilgrims and Puritans have always had an outsized importance in the political and religious culture that developed within the United States. The ambivalent relationship that these religious separatists and reformers had with the English government and the struggle that they faced to make a living and carve out a settlements and preserve their own identity and culture in the face of rough wilderness and increasingly hostile but divided native peoples proved to be decisive in helping to form an American identity that combined a certain paranoia about government with the high need for a well-armed and prickly society that remain important to this day. The authors are shrewd enough to recognize this even though they are by no means interested in defending the religious beliefs of Puritans and Separatists, which in some ways are not so different from my own, and the main reason I find them interesting personally. This book is aimed at kids, though, so it keeps difficult religious language to a minimum.
This book is a bit less than 100 pages and part of a series of volumes that is aimed at discussing colonial American history for middle grade readers. The book begins with a preface, then discusses the Pilgrims and Puritans as English Calvinists and compares and contrasts them (1). After that the authors discuss the way that the Pilgrims came to a desolate land in Plymouth and considered it an Eden (2), though the authors view that as a mistake. The authors then discuss how John Winthrop led some Puritans out of England to Massachusetts (3) and how they established their Bible Commonwealth there (4). After that the authors discuss the spread of the Bible Commonwealths throughout New England in Connecticut and Rhode Island and New Hampshire (5) and also how the local peoples (called Indians, as this book was written in the late 90's and so isn't as woke as it wants to be) went to war to try to stop English colonial expansion (6). Finally, the book ends with a discussion on the failure of the Puritan experiment and the legacy it left to following generations (7) as well as a bibliography and index for those readers who want more.
Is this a book that children will actually appreciate and find useful? It's difficult to say. There is a lot in this book that makes sense as a way for the authors to explain how it is that a group of very serious religious English found themselves on the shores of New England in the early to mid-1600's and how it was that this founder culture strongly influenced what happened later in American history even as that own culture weakened through time because of a decreasing religious zeal. This particular book focuses on the period between the landing at Plymouth Rock and the successful outcome of the bloody King Philip's War that marked a crisis in New England and left the native peoples broken and the surviving English colonists rather shaken, and as such it does not go into much of the larger context both before and after the narrow period discussed. As such, this book is likely to be most read and appreciated by people who are approaching Thanksgiving and looking for material that would help them to better understand 17th century New England, and while this book is not amazing, it is certainly good enough for that.
This book is a bit less than 100 pages and part of a series of volumes that is aimed at discussing colonial American history for middle grade readers. The book begins with a preface, then discusses the Pilgrims and Puritans as English Calvinists and compares and contrasts them (1). After that the authors discuss the way that the Pilgrims came to a desolate land in Plymouth and considered it an Eden (2), though the authors view that as a mistake. The authors then discuss how John Winthrop led some Puritans out of England to Massachusetts (3) and how they established their Bible Commonwealth there (4). After that the authors discuss the spread of the Bible Commonwealths throughout New England in Connecticut and Rhode Island and New Hampshire (5) and also how the local peoples (called Indians, as this book was written in the late 90's and so isn't as woke as it wants to be) went to war to try to stop English colonial expansion (6). Finally, the book ends with a discussion on the failure of the Puritan experiment and the legacy it left to following generations (7) as well as a bibliography and index for those readers who want more.
Is this a book that children will actually appreciate and find useful? It's difficult to say. There is a lot in this book that makes sense as a way for the authors to explain how it is that a group of very serious religious English found themselves on the shores of New England in the early to mid-1600's and how it was that this founder culture strongly influenced what happened later in American history even as that own culture weakened through time because of a decreasing religious zeal. This particular book focuses on the period between the landing at Plymouth Rock and the successful outcome of the bloody King Philip's War that marked a crisis in New England and left the native peoples broken and the surviving English colonists rather shaken, and as such it does not go into much of the larger context both before and after the narrow period discussed. As such, this book is likely to be most read and appreciated by people who are approaching Thanksgiving and looking for material that would help them to better understand 17th century New England, and while this book is not amazing, it is certainly good enough for that.
September 7, 2022
I was somewhat disappointed by what I hoped would be a helpful and concise history of early English settlements in New England. I have no major dispute with the historical account itself, and it includes many interesting details. But the tone of the book seems more consistent with histories written decades ago than with the more balanced accounts we’ve come to expect more recently.
The authors demonstrate a reverence for the Puritans, time and again excusing and defending their violent and merciless treatment of those who disagreed with their religious views. Lots more witches were killed in the old world than the new. They were trying to build a “City on a Hill” which couldn’t happen if they allowed unbelievers in their midst. The settlers were superior, at least in education and technology, to the original inhabitants of the land, whom the authors insist on referring to as “Indians.”
Meanwhile, Native Americans are accorded far less respect. Roger Williams is essentially the only dissident discussed at any length. While the book’s assertions may accurately reflect facts or at least Puritan views, I felt like many were presented defensively, so as to mute criticism of the pilgrims rather than dispassionately recount history.
It may be unfair for us to judge the conduct of 17th century people and groups based on 21st century mores and values, but I believe readers should be allowed to make that judgment themselves.
Perhaps the book’s approach is a function of the age of the authors and the era in which they were educated. Whatever the explanation, I think there are better alternatives than this history.
The authors demonstrate a reverence for the Puritans, time and again excusing and defending their violent and merciless treatment of those who disagreed with their religious views. Lots more witches were killed in the old world than the new. They were trying to build a “City on a Hill” which couldn’t happen if they allowed unbelievers in their midst. The settlers were superior, at least in education and technology, to the original inhabitants of the land, whom the authors insist on referring to as “Indians.”
Meanwhile, Native Americans are accorded far less respect. Roger Williams is essentially the only dissident discussed at any length. While the book’s assertions may accurately reflect facts or at least Puritan views, I felt like many were presented defensively, so as to mute criticism of the pilgrims rather than dispassionately recount history.
It may be unfair for us to judge the conduct of 17th century people and groups based on 21st century mores and values, but I believe readers should be allowed to make that judgment themselves.
Perhaps the book’s approach is a function of the age of the authors and the era in which they were educated. Whatever the explanation, I think there are better alternatives than this history.
December 31, 2020
I really enjoyed this concise look at the Puritans' and Pilgrims' history. This seemed to be a clear account and a fair assessment of what the Puritans endured, what they sought to achieve, and how they made many mistakes along the way (Spectral Evidence and the Salem Witch Trials, certain dealings with Quakers and Native Americans, quarrels among one another, etc.)
As an admirer of Puritan writings for their precision in writing, doctrinal clarity, and boldness in exhortation, it's helpful to see their lives from another angle as well. Among them were giants of the faith, but they were also just sinful people. Sinful people trying to work out their Christian obedience in the semi-barbaric 17th Century, while fighting for religious freedom and purity in the Church, suffering hunger and disease, on their way to start a new nation.
Quite an undertaking.
I enjoyed this very much. 3 good stars.
As an admirer of Puritan writings for their precision in writing, doctrinal clarity, and boldness in exhortation, it's helpful to see their lives from another angle as well. Among them were giants of the faith, but they were also just sinful people. Sinful people trying to work out their Christian obedience in the semi-barbaric 17th Century, while fighting for religious freedom and purity in the Church, suffering hunger and disease, on their way to start a new nation.
Quite an undertaking.
I enjoyed this very much. 3 good stars.
December 31, 2023
I’ve listened to a couple of books in this series, and while I think overall they’re excellent primers for someone who is new or deficient in knowledge of this aspect of American history. They’re written for young people, but given many people don’t have but a smidgen of American history, and aren’t voracious readers, this series can fill in gaps.
They aren’t “dumbed down, but they lack nuance. This one dealt all too briefly with King Philip’s War, and made out the indigenous tribes as the “heavies”, ignoring the injustices perpetrated on them by the colonists. The puritans of New England murdered, starved and enslaved thousands of native Americans during and after King Philip’s War. Collier skipped most of this.
For a better take, Nathanial Philbrick’s “Mayflower” goes into far greater depth.
They aren’t “dumbed down, but they lack nuance. This one dealt all too briefly with King Philip’s War, and made out the indigenous tribes as the “heavies”, ignoring the injustices perpetrated on them by the colonists. The puritans of New England murdered, starved and enslaved thousands of native Americans during and after King Philip’s War. Collier skipped most of this.
For a better take, Nathanial Philbrick’s “Mayflower” goes into far greater depth.
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March 31, 2023Holy historical revisionism, batman. This work twisted itself in so many knots it became fifth-dimensional in its attempts to portray puritans as 'heros' who were 'preserving their ideals' instead of who they actually were to the rest of the world: a reactionary cult of authoritarian Christians who would rather risk death in the pines of North America than have to tolerate the existence of other people they couldn't control and, once in those pines, tried to exert control over everyone around them.
November 18, 2019
Searching for something to read as we approach Thanksgiving, I stumbled on this interesting series, "The Drama of American History." Aimed at young readers, I still found the stories fascinating. It isn't a typical history book of dates and names, but enlightening as they bring out the ideas, opinions, attitudes, and trials of the early setters of this great nation. A quick read as it is divided in a number of events in of the early history of America.
January 10, 2021
Like it or not, our American heritage owes a great deal to the Puritans. Without going into much detail, this brief history does a good job at demonstrating this fact.
April 22, 2022
History as it should be told.
May 2, 2022
A well-narrated bit of well-explained history...I love learning new things
July 22, 2022
Great little tw0-hour snippets of concise US history.
December 3, 2023
This is a good overview of this period of time. I look forward to checking out some of the other books.
April 4, 2024
I just love history and this was quick. I like that history was broken down in their books by era; makes it’s so much easier to retain.
August 7, 2024
Another good, concise and informative entry in the ‘Drama of American History’ series.
April 11, 2025
Simplified overview of a complex period... definitely a good starting point
September 19, 2016
While this isn't a book I would read for pleasure, it makes an excellent text for homeschooling US history. Fewer names and dates, more big ideas than a typical text, it provides good discussion points for a homeschool student.
September 13, 2014
Interesting summary. Great for middle school or high school kids.m
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews