The Puritan Legacy
Many historians feel that the Puritan ethic of thrift, hard work, and self-sufficiency contributed to the success of capitalism in the New World.
Because the Puritans believed wealth was a sign of God’s favor, they strove to attain it.
American character shaped by the moral, ethical, and religious convictions of the Puritans.
Landed off tip of Cape Cod just before Christmas, 1620
By 1640, 20,000 more had sailed to what is now New England
Who Were These Puritans?
A number of Protestant groups that sought to “purify” the Church of England which was virtually inseparable from the English government
Wished to return to simpler forms of worship and church organization
Believed religion was a personal, inner experience
Believed clergy nor government could be an intermediary between God and the individual
Fled to Holland to avoid persecution by the English government and church
Feared they were going to lose their identity as Englishmen/women
Sailed for America Sept., 1620
Desired to build new society patterned after God’s word
Jonathan Winthrop – “City Upon A Hill” – beacon to the rest of the world
Puritan Beliefs: Sinners All?
Mankind damned because of Adam’s original sin
God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to save “particular” people (predestination)
These particular people were called “the elect” – sort of like winning the lottery
You did not know for certain if you were saved (the elect) or not
You could be fairly certain of your salvation by
feeling God’s grace arriving in an intense, emotional fashion
inner arrival of God’s grace was demonstrated by your outward behahvior
receiving God’s grace meant you were “reborn” as a member of the community of saints, so you behaved like a saint
Puritans examined their own lives (and that of their neighbors) looking for signs of grace
Living a “saintly” life meant demonstrating self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity
Puritan Politics: Government by Contract
-Puritans believed a covenant, or “contract” existed between humans and God
-They believed people should move freely into a contract with God
-Government should model this “contract”
-Mayflower Compact is an example of this
-Election of political leaders is a contractual agreement that either party may enter in to or out of > this laid the groundwork for American constitutional democracy
The Bible in America
-The Bible is the story of the creation, fall, wanderings, and rescue of the human race.
-Each Puritan could see stories from the Bible reflected in the events of their lives or the community’s life.
-They viewed their lives as a pilgrimage, or journey, to salvation.
-They read and recorded the events of their lives the way a literary critic reads a book
-The Bible was the literal word of God. Reading the Bible was a necessity for all Puritans as was the ability to understand theological debates.
-Placed tremendous emphasis on education
-Founded Harvard to train ministers in 1636
-Old Deluder Satan Act – first mandatory educational law passed in North America – teach young men to read so they could read the Bible to their families
Many historians feel that the Puritan ethic of thrift, hard work, and self-sufficiency contributed to the success of capitalism in the New World.
Because the Puritans believed wealth was a sign of God’s favor, they strove to attain it.
American character shaped by the moral, ethical, and religious convictions of the Puritans.
Landed off tip of Cape Cod just before Christmas, 1620
By 1640, 20,000 more had sailed to what is now New England
Who Were These Puritans?
A number of Protestant groups that sought to “purify” the Church of England which was virtually inseparable from the English government
Wished to return to simpler forms of worship and church organization
Believed religion was a personal, inner experience
Believed clergy nor government could be an intermediary between God and the individual
Fled to Holland to avoid persecution by the English government and church
Feared they were going to lose their identity as Englishmen/women
Sailed for America Sept., 1620
Desired to build new society patterned after God’s word
Jonathan Winthrop – “City Upon A Hill” – beacon to the rest of the world
Puritan Beliefs: Sinners All?
Mankind damned because of Adam’s original sin
God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to save “particular” people (predestination)
These particular people were called “the elect” – sort of like winning the lottery
You did not know for certain if you were saved (the elect) or not
You could be fairly certain of your salvation by
feeling God’s grace arriving in an intense, emotional fashion
inner arrival of God’s grace was demonstrated by your outward behahvior
receiving God’s grace meant you were “reborn” as a member of the community of saints, so you behaved like a saint
Puritans examined their own lives (and that of their neighbors) looking for signs of grace
Living a “saintly” life meant demonstrating self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity
Puritan Politics: Government by Contract
-Puritans believed a covenant, or “contract” existed between humans and God
-They believed people should move freely into a contract with God
-Government should model this “contract”
-Mayflower Compact is an example of this
-Election of political leaders is a contractual agreement that either party may enter in to or out of > this laid the groundwork for American constitutional democracy
The Bible in America
-The Bible is the story of the creation, fall, wanderings, and rescue of the human race.
-Each Puritan could see stories from the Bible reflected in the events of their lives or the community’s life.
-They viewed their lives as a pilgrimage, or journey, to salvation.
-They read and recorded the events of their lives the way a literary critic reads a book
-The Bible was the literal word of God. Reading the Bible was a necessity for all Puritans as was the ability to understand theological debates.
-Placed tremendous emphasis on education
-Founded Harvard to train ministers in 1636
-Old Deluder Satan Act – first mandatory educational law passed in North America – teach young men to read so they could read the Bible to their families