Apush Dbq Research Paper

Child-rearing was an evolving practice within the English upper class from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries. A new adult view of children as mature, fragile and inherently good led to changes in the nursing, care, and discipline of English, aristocratic children.

In the 16th century, much in accordance with the Puritan doctrine, children were seen as naturally evil beings. As stated by Robert Cleaver, a Calvinist Minister. Children were "… wayward and impulsive… inclined to evil."(Doc. 1) This is no surprise because Calvinists believed in pre-destination leaving little room to either hell or heaven. While a minister may have such negative view points, other members of English society had similar experiences. Lady Jane reflected
Offspring were effectively blank-slates and, left to their own devices, happy and benevolent. As stated by John Earle an Anglican minister "...His soul yet a blank paper unscribbled with observations of the world" (Doc.2) The new society's physical punishments were now left to a rod or cane that were used in moderation, children were looked on as innocent and purely happy (Doc.2) but children still needed to be obedient as written by Sir George Savile, first Marquis of Halifax "You must begin early to make your children love you so that they will obey you"(Doc.12) Adult practices drastically changed in the 17th century. Also the rod was only used for the most egregious of mistakes. Some members of the aristocracy abandoned physical punishment altogether, instead relying on the encouragement of good behavior with rewards. However, this method of child-rearing often led to bratty behavior in children. Sir George Savile said that you must be Kind but Firm to keep your children in line at all times (Doc.12). These statements show that children may have been the same people they were before, yet now they were looked on as purely happy, gentle creatures, able to be treated with respect and