1. America’s Early Major Religions

2. Do Now SWBAT compare/contrast major early American religions
Do Now: How does religion impact the life of you or your family? What about your community? Politics?
Also, answer the following:
-What is religion?
-Define polytheism and monotheism.
-What did Native Americans believe in?
-Who were the Quakers?
-Who were the Puritans?

3. Yesterday’s Exit Ticket
Directions: complete this silently for four minutes. Write the answers underneath the Exit Ticket section of your Do Now sheet.

4. What is religion?
Religion- a set of spiritual beliefs, values, and practices
Polytheism-the belief in more than one god
Monotheism – the belief in one god
Many cultures came into contact in America
They brought with them their religious beliefs to the ones that were already in place

5. Olmec Olmec was an ancient civilization in the Gulf of Mexico area
They worshipped many gods that were spirit animals
Jaguar was considered the most important spirit
Used a shaman (a type of religious leader) to communicate directly with the spirit world

6. Native Americans
Although Native American groups are diverse, they have some similarities Many believed in shamans Had spirits that were inside all things, including land, water, plants, and animals Saw Mother Earth as a provider A Great Spirit started the world

7. African American
African Americans were brought over as slaves, and some kept their original faith that they brought from Africa
Some slaves practiced Islam
Others brought beliefs that were similar to Native Americans in that they believed in spirit worlds
When they were in America, slaves mixed part of their traditional beliefs with those of Christianity from their masters

8. Puritans A form of Christianity
Wanted to “purify” the Church of England
Very strict; they had a ban on music and celebrations
Intolerant of other beliefs
Thought God called on people to work hard and do good service for others
Churches were the center of their community

9. Quakers A form of Christianity
Believed in direct communication from God
Saw all people as spiritually equal
Tolerant of all religious views
Pacifists (refused to fight in wars)

10. Planting the Seeds of Representative Government
Puritans had church government at the center of their lives, which showed they were able to rule on their own
There was the belief that children should be able to read so they could read the Bible
Literacy gave them the ability to read and question authority

11. Independent Practice
Create a Venn diagram, comparing the following religions:
-Puritans
-Quakers
-Olmec beliefs
-Native Americans
-African Americans
When you finish with this, read page 40 on . On a separate piece of paper, answer the questions on the last page.

12. Exit Ticket 4. • natural world/supernatural meaning
• animal ceremonialism
• medicine men and priests
Which of these religions is most likely described in the box?
Native American
African traditionalism
Quakers
Puritans
5. Which describes a way that religion encouraged representative government?
Governors in Middle colonies lost their power
Quakers believed everyone had special powers
Puritans believed in the need for civil government.
Catholic priests set up separate missions
1. What is one difference between Native American religions and Puritanism?
Native American religions focused on one spirit, while Puritanism believed in many gods.
B. Native American religions focused on many spirits, Puritanism believed in many gods.
Native American religions are based on faith, while Puritanism was based on facts.
Native American religions focused on many spirits, Puritanism believed in one God.
2. Which of these is common among Native American religions and the religions of early American settlers?
A. belief in the Bible
B. belief in animal spirits
C. belief in a "creator”
D. belief in multiple gods
3. Which of these was the reason many colonial New England parents taught their children to read?
A. to read the Bible
B. to learn social studies skills
C. to read newspapers
D. to learn communication skills