Why Do You Need to Teach Students about Anne Hutchinson?
When educators like myself teach students about the 13 colonies, we usually discuss the difference between the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. We discuss common topics such as the climate, geography, and economies of each region.
We mention some of the people who founded the colony. However, since we are limited in time, it’s hard to go into depth on who these people exactly were.
But there is one leader who I think every teacher needs to spend some time on and that is Anne Hutchinson.
Who was Anne Hutchinson?
Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan and religious leader in Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was a mother to 14 children and was married to a prominent businessman who was also a magistrate, or judge. She was also a midwife and healer in the community.
She formed bible study groups in her home that became so popular that she had to have two meetings per week at her home. As a charismatic woman, she had many followers.
Her religious views were very different from those of Puritan leaders at the time. She preached that people would go to heaven and have salvation if they had a personal connection to God. At the time other religious leaders believed that salvation was achieved through good deeds
John Winthrop, who was the Governor at that time, viewed her as a threat to Puritan society. How dare a woman preach to others about her beliefs! She was criticized and disrupted the status quo in Massachusetts Bay Colony. I wonder if she were a man, if things would be different. Interesting enough, women leaders currently are still more scrutinized than men even after all these years. Even today women in leadership roles face many gender bias issues. But that’s another topic!
Why Students Need to Know Who Anne Hutchinson Was?
Anne Hutchinson was a feminist during her time. She shared her religious beliefs during a time when women were not allowed to preach. She also criticized the sermons of the ministers and questioned their authority. To make matters worse, the leaders of Massachusetts Bay Colony frowned on the fact that men were also attending her meetings.
This raised concern among the Puritan leaders who wanted everyone to conform to the same beliefs. They viewed her as a threat because she encouraged others to think for themselves. She was truly a leader in the movement of freedom of religion and speech.
Students need to know the irony behind the Puritans. They escaped religious persecution in Europe because their beliefs were different. However, they themselves persecuted each other when they felt members of their church strayed away from their strict practices or beliefs. Often times they would banish people or hang them.
What Social Studies Books Don’t Teach about Anne Hutchinson
When Anne Hutchinson was put on trial, she was up against nine magistrates (judges) and thirty-one deputies of the General Court of Massachusetts, all men, including John Winthrop.
There were also eight ministers there to offer testimony. Imagine entering a courtroom and having to defend yourself without a lawyer against a crowd of men! She was also pregnant at the time.
What’s interesting is that she was never told exactly what crime she was accused of committing. During the trail, she used her wit to show how frivolous the case was.
Anne Hutchinson was eventually found guilty. Her and her family were banished, or as my students like to say, “she was kicked out” and forced to relocate. Anne Hutchison, along with about 80 followers, left for Rhode Island.
What Social Studies books don’t reveal was how John Winthrop slandered and insulted her. He called her an “American Jezebel” and when she delivered a stillbirth baby with deformities, Winthrop spread rumors that she had given birth to a demon. Another minister preached that the stillbirth was due to God punishing her. I don’t think these stories are appropriate for elementary children but as teachers it’s important to know the background story of how she was victimized.
Why Do We Call Anne Hutchinson A Founding Mother?
Anne Hutchinson fought for her right to freedom of speech before this idea ever took root in our government. She was a founding mother because she stood up for her beliefs knowing there would be dire consequences, just like the founding fathers. Students need to know about this incredible woman who stood up for herself against all odds.
If you would like an engaging activity that goes beyond reading passages for your students, you can find a Reader’s Theater about Anne Hutchinson’s trial in my TPT shop. The skit is light hearted and fun, and it is part of a collection about the Early 13 Colonies.
