Why were Williams and Hutchinson perceived as threats by the Puritan authorities? Describe their trials, and the results. What do these cases tell us about the belief system of the Puritan authorities in Massachusetts Bay colony?

Williams and Hutchinson were perceived as threats by the Puritan authorities because they challenged the religious and political authority of the colony.

Roger Williams was a Puritan minister who believed in the separation of church and state, and he also advocated for fair treatment of Native Americans. He was seen as a threat because his beliefs went against the established religious and political order of the Massachusetts Bay colony.

Anne Hutchinson, on the other hand, held religious meetings in her home where she discussed her own interpretations of the Bible. She also criticized the Puritan ministers and their teachings, which was seen as a direct challenge to the religious authority of the colony.

Both Williams and Hutchinson were put on trial for their beliefs and actions. Williams was convicted of spreading "new and dangerous opinions" and was ultimately banished from the colony in 1636. Hutchinson was also put on trial and was eventually banished in 1638.

These cases tell us that the belief system of the Puritan authorities in the Massachusetts Bay colony was one of strict religious orthodoxy and a strong belief in the unity of church and state. Any challenge to this established order was seen as a threat and was met with harsh punishment. The Puritan authorities were not tolerant of dissenting opinions and were willing to use legal means to suppress any beliefs or actions that went against their own.