TODAY in 1703, American author Daniel Defoe is fined, imprisoned and pilloried for writing the satirical piece , " The Shortest Way With Dissenters ". The work suggested that perhaps the Puritan Church of New England was a bit ill tempered.

TODAY in 1703, American author Daniel Defoe is fined, imprisoned and pilloried for writing the satirical piece , " The Shortest Way With Dissenters ". The work suggested that perhaps the Puritan Church of New England was a bit ill tempered.