The First Willing Victim: Anne Hutchinson Vs. Massachusetts

The First Willing Victim “Mrs. Hutchinson, you are called here as one of those that have troubled the peace of the commonwealth and the churches here. You are known to be a woman that hath had a great share in the promoting and divulging of those opinions that are causes of this trouble…” These are some stone hard words that John Winthrop spoke to/about Anne Hutchinson on her first trial day. While, he was speaking these harsh words that day it is said that Anne stood listening to the charges without even flitching. How did Anne Hutchinson versus Massachusetts effect historical, social, cultural, political, economic and global forces in the seventeenth century and present day?
In the seventeenth century, the average person was able to recite scriptures correctly with the chapter and verse number. The people that
felt that they were right with God believed that they need to bring swift and harsh justice to anyone who they perceived to offend God or the church.
The puritan’s view of the way things should be done in this century was that men and women had certain roles and for women to step outside of these boundaries, that is to act in a way that it is perceived that only men should act, is highly contestable. The puritans adhered to the bible very closely. Also, the puritan society of early Massachusetts was among the most critical that could be imagined. John Winthrop who was the prosecutor in the case against Anne Hutchinson was among the strictest puritan, along with the local government. One can clearly identify the puritan’s feelings of their superiority, not only in law, government, and church, but also in being a man as opposed
to a woman, an Englishman as opposed to a Native American, and a "virtuous" person as compared to a sinner. Anne in 1612 married William Hutchinson. Together they had 15 children. In 1634 she and her husband moved to Boston. Here Anne began holding informal church meetings in her home discussing the pastor's services and also preaching her beliefs to her followers. Threatened by meetings she held in her Boston home, the clergy charged Hutchinson with hearsay. An outspoken female in a male hierarchy, Hutchinson had little hope that many would speak in her defense, and she was being tried by the General Court. In 1636 she was charged with hearsay and banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Anne Hutchinson challenged the traditional role of women in the Puritan society through her opposing religious beliefs. Anne Hutchinson was most likely not the first woman to have her own thoughts. She was simply the first to act on them. Anne Hutchinson stood trial alone, with no lawyer to defend her. She faced a panel of powerful and well-educated men. Hutchinson believed that people could communicate directly with God, without the help of ministers or the Bible. This challenged the established religion of Massachusetts Bay. Local ministers taught that people could only find God by following the teachings of the Bible and that only they could interpret the Bible correctly. Governor John Winthrop was the driving force behind Anne's banishment. Hutchinson, he said, held meetings that were "not tolerable" in the sight of God. Much of Anne's independence and willingness to speak out was due to her father's example. Anne admired her father for his defiance of traditional church principles. Anne had several things that she believed needed to be different about the way life was back then and now: 1. One can feel one's salvation and is filled with the spirit of God after conversion. 2. One needn't be learned in the Bible or in the Puritan writers in order to be saved. 3. The ministers are all under the covenant of works, except John Cotton, who is under the covenant of grace. 4. Inner light is the guarantee of salvation. 5. All responsibility for salvation is placed on Christ. 6. Every person has the ear of God if only he or she would ask for it, and listen to the answer. 7. Indian slavery is wrong - people of all skin colors are of one blood. 8. Sunday shouldn't be set aside as the Lord's Day because every day is the Lord's Day. 9. Christians will have new bodies when they get to heaven. 10. Predestination is unfounded. 11. Prayers should not be memorized, but inspired by love for God, waiting on Him. 12. Holy Spirit dwells within each Christian like a personal union. 13. The Law should be interpreted by each person as their own conscience dictates. 14. Child baptism is wrong because the child doesn't know what is being done to him or her.
Many of people now days are coming under “the microscope” for speaking out about things that are their beliefs in our society we are taught to speak out about what we believe, but at the same time so many people are afraid to because of the persecution they can come under. Like, Anne with the way she stood up for herself against the local government and the fact that she should have been able to speak the word of her God with whomever and whoever she wanted. But, when Winthrop felt threatened by her “preaching” God’s word he deemed it unlawful. There is times were the government will ignore laws that have been in effect for several years and hardly apply to today’s society; until there is someone who does something “wrong” and they twist the words/doings of that person to where that long forgotten law can come into play. There were many people (men) who did not like the way Anne carried herself. Since, she was such a strong willed women there many women who secretly wished to be like her. She kept doing what she knew God had meant for her to do, even though society did not accept it. Anne has showed many women, including me, that even if society tells you: no, that it’s not acceptable for women to do something, for me to just stay strong and go after what I want. In many ways, Anne Hutchinson was one of the first willing victims for women's rights in America!