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Colonialism: Puritanism (1620s-early 1700s)

Colonialism: Puritanism (1620s-early 1700s). American Puritan Beliefs/Values. Zealous reformers: left Church of England - religious freedom to be stricter -persecution

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Colonialism: Puritanism (1620s-early 1700s)

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  1. Colonialism:Puritanism (1620s-early 1700s)

  2. American Puritan Beliefs/Values • Zealous reformers: left Church of England - religious freedom to be stricter -persecution -fanatics on a “concrete path”: tolerated no deviation; could be punished by law – even executed -or ostracized for spiritual misdeeds; no holidays, always praying, worship in free time; moral purity to the smallest detail! • No individual freedoms -greater good & unification of community – work together as one -exclusion of other ideologies that threaten existence; grounded in exclusion • No privacy: duty to spy on neighbors & report them sin • God omnipotent & omniscient - aware of actions & intentions! • Dualism: body (physical) inferior to spirit (mental)

  3. Puritan Beliefs/Values Continued… • Total Depravity/Original Sin: naturally evil (Adam & Eve’s fall from grace  infant damnation) -Must overcome sinful nature but likely succumb to it • Absolutism • Bible supreme authority • All pleasures, such as dancing, music & chanting, and theater and belong to Satan! • Forest = devil’s home base & Native Americans - racism & hatred dehumanize them so won’t survive • Poverty = sin • Virtues: prudence, thrift, hard work (slaves to East Coast – produce food or die! Working good for maintaining moral standing), courage, self-reliance, moderation • Private property & mercantile enterprise should be sanctioned • Extremely superstitious & believed heavily in the presence of both God, the devil, & demons/witches in an “invisible world”

  4. Puritan Beliefs/Values Continued… • Irresistible Grace: God’s grace freely given & cannot be earned/denied • Backsliding: saved believers likely fall to temptation & sin, Satan loves the virtuous the most • Unconditional Election: God saves the chosen few he wishes, (predestined) • Limited Atonement: Jesus only died for “elect” • Perseverance of the Saints: those elected by God have full power to interpret God’s will & live uprightly • Emphasis on obedience vs. fondness (obedience = godliness, expected obedience of children – no toys or games because idleness, no affection for kids under 2 to “break their will”) • Patriarchy - Women inferior & subservient to men - Biblical patriarchy: women more likely to be sinful/lustful (Eve as 1st sinner in Old Testament Bible) - Wealth/property to husband upon marriage - Most “witches” land-owning women (widows/unmarried) to get land/money/power; patriarchy fueled witch hunts

  5. Tools of Control • Fear/Threats of punishment (corporeal punishment, execution, etc.) • Guilt & Shame Results • Oppression & pressure becomes overbearing/too heavy own pursuits become more interesting than working for the community; want personal freedom  rebellion against singular purpose  witch hunt

  6. Downfall • THEOCRACY: church & state combined, church ruled all, even capital punishment for spiritual misdeeds • Public persecution & trials • Religious leaders: political & official leaders (law enforcement) • Inflexible: fled persecution only to persecute with fervor • Scientific growth • Urbanization & immigration: growing American diversity

  7. Puritan Writing TYPES • Travel journals • Personal/spiritual diaries • Sermons • Lectures • Historical accounts • Poetry PURPOSES/FUNCTION • Literate public • Instructive/didactic • Plain style • Glorify God & make mysterious God more relevant • Reinforce authority of Bible & Church • Examine/explore inner & outer lives for workings of God • No reading for fun; non-Biblical literature sinful • Little fiction THEMES • Idealism (religious & political) • Pragmatism (practicality) STYLE • Protestant: no flowery language/ “ornateness” (too sinful)

  8. Major Players (Writers) • Jonathan Edwards (sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”) • Anne Bradstreet (poetry: “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House,” “The Flesh and the Spirit”) • Edward Taylor (poetry) • William Bradford (journal, poetry)

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