Week 13, Day 1
The Puritans & the Separatists
Dear Grandkids,
Do you remember this stanza from grade school? “In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
Spain and Portugal began colonizing in North America after Columbus’ first trip. France would begin in the 16th century. All three countries favored Catholicism and were spreading it to their new colonies. England lagged behind in the development of the New World.
King Philip II of Spain wanted to please the Pope by removing the Protestant Queen of England, Elizabeth I. In May 1588, his Spanish Armada, a fleet of 141 ships, sailed towards England. These ships carried Roman Catholic priests and tools for the Spanish Inquisition, intending to control English churches and punish those seen as 'heretics'. English ships fought the Spanish in the English Channel but didn’t inflict much harm. What really helped the English was a storm that wrecked about 28 Spanish ships as they sailed around Ireland on their way back to Spain. Watch the following video.
The English believed God caused the storm that helped them win, so they made a medal that said, “God blew, and they are scattered.” A picture of the medal is below. This victory let England start colonies in North America. Puritans and Separatists, also known as Pilgrims, settled many of these colonies. Without this victory, North America might have developed like South America. South America is made up of several small countries which are mainly Catholic.
Cite some examples from the Bible where God used nations to carry out his will.