Puritans and Enlightenment
Beginnings
The first people came to the America over the Bering strait from Siberia to Alaska during the Ice Age
Early Europeans emphasized the Americas’ treasures- “land of milk and honey”
Alvar Nunex Cabeza de Vaca- one of the first people who gave a realistic account of the new world
Stranded in the New World for 8 years
Lived with the Native Americans and so talked favorable about them
When he finally returned to Europe and stood up for the Natives, he fell into disfavor
*The Puritans were Protestants who wanted to purify the church of England
Wanted to get the church to actively live out the meaning of the New Testament
Didn’t think the government should control the church
Felt that the church was too focused on ceremony/liturgy
*William Bradford led the first voyage of Puritans in order to build a new society patterned after the word of G-d and to get away from religious persecution
*2 things Puritans were certain of:
Humanity was damned for eternity because of the sins of Adam and Eve
G-d sent his son Jesus to save a select few (the elect)
*If you were one that G-d had chosen to save, you could feel G-d’s saving grace upon you
If it came into you, you acted like a saint
*Traits responsible for allowing the capitalistic Puritan society to succeed: self-reliance, temperance (restraint or moderation), simplicity
ESSAY: religion, education, government- how the literature reflects these
Education was vital because they felt the teachings of the Bible were relevant to their own lives- everyone had to be able to read it
First college- Harvard College- originally to train ministers
Government- the Puritans believed there was a covenant between G-d and the people- if the people followed the Bible, G-d would take care of them
The people had to obey the laws and the government provided for them
First compact- Mayflower Compact
The Puritans believed that their lives reflected the will of G-d- looked at the events in their life as revealing the
The first people came to the America over the Bering strait from Siberia to Alaska during the Ice Age
Early Europeans emphasized the Americas’ treasures- “land of milk and honey”
Alvar Nunex Cabeza de Vaca- one of the first people who gave a realistic account of the new world
Stranded in the New World for 8 years
Lived with the Native Americans and so talked favorable about them
When he finally returned to Europe and stood up for the Natives, he fell into disfavor
*The Puritans were Protestants who wanted to purify the church of England
Wanted to get the church to actively live out the meaning of the New Testament
Didn’t think the government should control the church
Felt that the church was too focused on ceremony/liturgy
*William Bradford led the first voyage of Puritans in order to build a new society patterned after the word of G-d and to get away from religious persecution
*2 things Puritans were certain of:
Humanity was damned for eternity because of the sins of Adam and Eve
G-d sent his son Jesus to save a select few (the elect)
*If you were one that G-d had chosen to save, you could feel G-d’s saving grace upon you
If it came into you, you acted like a saint
*Traits responsible for allowing the capitalistic Puritan society to succeed: self-reliance, temperance (restraint or moderation), simplicity
ESSAY: religion, education, government- how the literature reflects these
Education was vital because they felt the teachings of the Bible were relevant to their own lives- everyone had to be able to read it
First college- Harvard College- originally to train ministers
Government- the Puritans believed there was a covenant between G-d and the people- if the people followed the Bible, G-d would take care of them
The people had to obey the laws and the government provided for them
First compact- Mayflower Compact
The Puritans believed that their lives reflected the will of G-d- looked at the events in their life as revealing the