The Puritansand Historical Background

AP CompAP Comp

Mrs. BartelMrs. Bartel

BackgroundBackground

20-40,000 years ago Ice Age hunters crossed the 20-40,000 years ago Ice Age hunters crossed the Bering land bridge from Siberia to what is now Bering land bridge from Siberia to what is now Alaska.Alaska.

Native Americans did not think of themselves as Native Americans did not think of themselves as living in a single nation.living in a single nation.

Early explorers – first observations written in Early explorers – first observations written in Spanish and French.Spanish and French.

Columbus arrives in Guanahani (Bahamas) in Columbus arrives in Guanahani (Bahamas) in 1492.1492.

BackgroundBackground

Motivation for first explorers to come to the Motivation for first explorers to come to the new world:new world:

Discovery of new landsDiscovery of new lands Money and power for monarchsMoney and power for monarchs Wanted money for explorationWanted money for exploration Challenges/AdventureChallenges/Adventure Looking for shortcut to India and ChinaLooking for shortcut to India and China

Henry VIII – 1534 Act of Supremacy-“Supreme Head Henry VIII – 1534 Act of Supremacy-“Supreme Head of the Church of England.”of the Church of England.”

Formation of the Anglican Church (Church of England)Formation of the Anglican Church (Church of England) Puritans and SeparatistsPuritans and Separatists Left for the New WorldLeft for the New World Concerned about the influence of the DutchConcerned about the influence of the Dutch Afraid of losing their spiritual identity.Afraid of losing their spiritual identity. Hoped to establish a new settlement in America.Hoped to establish a new settlement in America. Wanted to convert the Natives to Christians.Wanted to convert the Natives to Christians.

Who were the Puritans?Who were the Puritans?

Puritans were a branch of the Puritans were a branch of the Protestant churchProtestant church

Their movement began in the 16Their movement began in the 16thth and 17and 17thth centuries centuries

Although they preferred to be called Although they preferred to be called “the godly,” they were given the “the godly,” they were given the name “Puritans” for their struggle to name “Puritans” for their struggle to reform or purify the Church of reform or purify the Church of EnglandEngland

Two Types of Puritans:Two Types of Puritans:Separatists Separatists

Held irreconcilable Held irreconcilable differences with the differences with the Church of England; they Church of England; they thought the church was thought the church was corrupt and that they must corrupt and that they must distance themselves from distance themselves from itit

Were persecuted under Were persecuted under various monarchies in various monarchies in EnglandEngland

First fled from England to First fled from England to HollandHolland

Later, came to found the Later, came to found the Plymouth Colony in Plymouth Colony in America in 1620America in 1620

Non-SeparatistsNon-Separatists Held less extreme views of Held less extreme views of

the Church of Englandthe Church of England Believed in church reform Believed in church reform

rather than an overthrow rather than an overthrow of the churchof the church

Came to America in 1630 Came to America in 1630 and founded the and founded the Massachusetts Bay ColonyMassachusetts Bay Colony

Doctrine of Election / Doctrine of Election / Predestination:Predestination:

Man is innately sinful; Man is innately sinful; original sin means that we original sin means that we are incapable of any are incapable of any depravitydepravity

Only those who are chosen Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) are by God (the elect) are saved; salvation is not saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or based on your beliefs or good worksgood works

Bible supreme authority Bible supreme authority (helped justify treatment (helped justify treatment of American Indians)of American Indians)

The grace of Christ allows The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to the chosen the strength to follow the will of Godfollow the will of God

The chosen will follow the The chosen will follow the path of righteousnesspath of righteousness

Predestination Predestination continued…continued…

No one knew who was or No one knew who was or was not saved. Puritans was not saved. Puritans believed that you must have believed that you must have a conversion experience in a conversion experience in order to be accepted by order to be accepted by God. God’s grace was given God. God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this to the chosen, and this grace was demonstrated grace was demonstrated through one’s behavior. through one’s behavior. Puritans would, therefore, Puritans would, therefore, reflect upon themselves reflect upon themselves (self-examination) for signs (self-examination) for signs of this grace. So, even of this grace. So, even though they did not believe though they did not believe good works helped one get good works helped one get into heaven, they believed into heaven, they believed that living a godly life was that living a godly life was evidence of being chosen. evidence of being chosen.

As a result of their belief in As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:predestination, Puritans:

Were always looking Were always looking for signsfor signs

Scrutinized daily Scrutinized daily events events

Thought there was Thought there was always a reason for always a reason for everythingeverything

Felt that God’s hand Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no was in everything, no matter how matter how insignificantinsignificant

Puritan Beliefs & Values:Puritan Beliefs & Values: Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the

BibleBible They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, as They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, as

opposed to church doctrinesopposed to church doctrines They did not believe in excess worship; they They did not believe in excess worship; they

wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, no cushioned pews, no singing, and no musicno cushioned pews, no singing, and no music

They wanted to keep things simple so that they They wanted to keep things simple so that they could concentrate on God could concentrate on God

There is a constant struggle between the forces There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satanof God and Satan

God rewards the good and punishes the wickedGod rewards the good and punishes the wicked

Education & Work Ethic:Education & Work Ethic: They believed in living a virtuous, They believed in living a virtuous,

self-examined lifeself-examined life They believed in strict discipline They believed in strict discipline

and had a strong work ethicand had a strong work ethic They felt that qualities that led to They felt that qualities that led to

economic success were virtuouseconomic success were virtuous They valued educationThey valued education Harvard was founded in 1636 to Harvard was founded in 1636 to

train ministerstrain ministers They wanted their children to get They wanted their children to get

far away from the evils of Englandfar away from the evils of England Children were not allowed to play Children were not allowed to play

games; boys were taught to go games; boys were taught to go hunting and fishing, while girls hunting and fishing, while girls were taught how to run a were taught how to run a householdhousehold

Women were considered less Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, capable intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally (Eve was theologically, and morally (Eve was the first sinner)the first sinner)

Literature for pleasure was highly Literature for pleasure was highly censoredcensored

Puritan Literature & Puritan Literature & Writings:Writings:

They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. One reason was the fact that they were struggling to One reason was the fact that they were struggling to build their settlement. Another reason was the fact build their settlement. Another reason was the fact that they considered works of fiction frivolous and that they considered works of fiction frivolous and possibly immoral.possibly immoral.

Types of texts:Types of texts:- historical documents: preserving their history and - historical documents: preserving their history and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over leaving relatives behind in Englandover leaving relatives behind in England- personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ - personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ examination and as a way to look for signs of examination and as a way to look for signs of salvationsalvation- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs- religious tracts (- religious tracts (a pamphlet or leaflet of political or a pamphlet or leaflet of political or

religious propaganda)religious propaganda)

Puritan Plain Style:Puritan Plain Style: Plain Style: a mode of expression Plain Style: a mode of expression

characterized by its clarity, accessibility, characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation. In early America, the plain ornamentation. In early America, the plain style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, shaping the language of prose and poetry, the shaping the language of prose and poetry, the design of furniture and architecture, painting design of furniture and architecture, painting and other visual arts. Rejecting ornamental and other visual arts. Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions rather than to show God in their expressions rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both Puritans and Quakers. Puritans and Quakers.