1. Puritan Foundations Essential Question: Why did the Puritans come to the New World and how did they influence America and its Literature? English 3 CP

2. The Focus “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world….” ~John Winthrop Puritan 1 st Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony founder of the city of Boston

3. Puritans Influential in the development of the American character 1 st group landed December, 1620, at the tip of Cape Cod, MA By 1640, 20,000 English Puritans in “New England”

4. What’s a Puritan? Puritan refers to any number of Protestant groups who sought to “purify” the Church of England and separate the church from the government Desired a return to simpler forms of worship Religion = a personal experience, God direct to the individual; no need for clergy or government to act as middleman

5. Puritans are often referred to as pilgrims because they took a pilgrimage (journey to salvation) from England to America

6. Puritans came not only to escape religious persecution, but also as a business venture, hoping to capitalize on the resources available in the New World

7. The Voyage to America 2+ month voyage from Plymouth, England to Cape Cod, “New England” Began in 2 ships (the Mayflower and the Speedwell); forced to turn back twice Abandoned Speedwell because of leaks Main beam of the Mayflower cracks half way across Atlantic, but Puritans were able to straighten it and continue on… determination of their commitment to God

8. The Mayflower (modern recreation and painting of original)

9. Who and what was here when the Puritans arrived? European settlers, including Puritans, began arriving in the 1600s. They encountered native cultures and traditions that had been “discovered” by European explorers some years earlier Many native cultures were destroyed or diseased by the intruders who returned to their native lands to boast about the beauty and wealth of the “New World”

11. Importance of the Bible Puritans read the Bible as a story of the creation, fall, wanderings, and rescue of the human race Connections to be found between the Bible and Puritan daily life Bible taken literally Puritans emphasized education so that people could read and understand the Bible and be able to engage in theological debates –Used “The New England Primer” to teach the alphabet with Bible verses

13. Puritan Values Everyday world and spiritual world closely connected –God is everywhere and in constant control Settlements in New World were business ventures as much spiritual ones Wealth = a sign of God’s favor Successful, prosperous settlements mean God is happy with the Puritans

15. Puritan Writings Diaries and histories important forms of Puritan literature as records of workings of God in people’s daily lives Writings were reflective, in the form of letters, journals, and diaries Events of their lives influenced their literature Style was plain –May not seem plain to you; that’s because it’s OLD!

16. Puritan Beliefs Religion is a personal, inner experience (church and clergy could not /should not act as intermediary between individuals and God) A good Puritan must be –practical –committed to God –Industrious (“Idle hands are the Devil’s playground) A good Puritan would live a life of –Temperance (self-control) –Sobriety –Simplicity

17. Puritan Beliefs Sins of humanity make government necessary and the foundation of those government laws are the laws of God (10 Commandments) Mayflower Compact – outlined how the colonists would be governed, it was a joint creation – laid the foundation for American government and democracy

18. How did the Puritans help shape the America we know today? Government by contract – a contract existed between God and humanity and they used this as the basis for their worldly social order as well

19. Mayflower Compact – an outline for government of the new settlement, it was a contractual agreement, entered into freely. Little room for compromise, therefore not “democratic” in the modern sense

20. Separation of Church and State - Puritans felt that the clergy and/or government in England was interfering with worship and they believed religion to be personal (government and church should not be tied to one another)

21. Many of the first universities in America were established by Puritans - Harvard College founded in 1636, 6 years after the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established and 16 years after the Pilgrims first landed (education is KEY)

23. The Mayflower CompactThe Mayflower Compact

24. The Signing of the Mayflower Compact

25. Challenges to the Puritans The Age of Reason (Enlightenment) begins in Europe and the ideas spread to America through Rationalism Rationalism = the belief that humans can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, religious faith, or on intuition. Think for yourself. Puritans = God is actively and mysteriously involved on the workings of the universe. Rationalists = God is removed and science is to be relied on to explain the workings of the universe instead (Sir Isaac Newton and his idea of God as clockmaker).