Puritans: A Brief Summary
The first expedition was dispatched to the New World by Water Raleigh and consisted of 2 ships, a reconnaissance expedition, set out in 1584. Roanoke was reached in July 1585 and had on board John White a mapmaker and a painter who left a number of high-quality water color drawings representing Indians, their village, dances, and their way of life.
Hariot, a scientific expert who was also on board, published in 1588 „A Brief and true report of Virginia”. On board there were many other specialists, including an apothecary, a surgeon, and skilled craftsmen built houses, and a fort and searched for gold. Soon however, they ran out of food, and frightened by the natives they left the small settlement and returned to England.
A further …show more content…
In withstanding persecution, in rejecting the authority of popes, kings, and bishops, the Puritans fostered a tradition of independent congregations, of men and women free to choose their own ministers and set their own doctrines. And that Puritan dedication of self-determination helped establish the independence and freedom that Americans have long cherished as their greatest possessions.
The Concise Anthology of American Literature notices: “Of all the books published in the entire history of colonial New England, nearly half dealt with religion, and most of them were collections of sermons”.
The Anthology further remarks: “The sermons were fundamental religious exercises and much more. In that day before newspapers and the electronic news media, sermons were a public forum, a source of news and informed opinions”.
Many original church members died or moved away, and newcomers began to question the divine authority of Plymouth’s religious leaders. But Bradford held fast to his faith in the divine mission of people. And his faith shines clearly in his story of the Pilgrims, a book that has become part of the nation’s heritage and stands as one of the great works of colonial
Hariot, a scientific expert who was also on board, published in 1588 „A Brief and true report of Virginia”. On board there were many other specialists, including an apothecary, a surgeon, and skilled craftsmen built houses, and a fort and searched for gold. Soon however, they ran out of food, and frightened by the natives they left the small settlement and returned to England.
A further …show more content…
In withstanding persecution, in rejecting the authority of popes, kings, and bishops, the Puritans fostered a tradition of independent congregations, of men and women free to choose their own ministers and set their own doctrines. And that Puritan dedication of self-determination helped establish the independence and freedom that Americans have long cherished as their greatest possessions.
The Concise Anthology of American Literature notices: “Of all the books published in the entire history of colonial New England, nearly half dealt with religion, and most of them were collections of sermons”.
The Anthology further remarks: “The sermons were fundamental religious exercises and much more. In that day before newspapers and the electronic news media, sermons were a public forum, a source of news and informed opinions”.
Many original church members died or moved away, and newcomers began to question the divine authority of Plymouth’s religious leaders. But Bradford held fast to his faith in the divine mission of people. And his faith shines clearly in his story of the Pilgrims, a book that has become part of the nation’s heritage and stands as one of the great works of colonial