Beginnings to 1750: Beginnings to 1750: Native American and Native American and Puritan influence on Puritan influence on

AmericaAmerica

The Native AmericansThe Native Americans► No one really knows No one really knows

when or how they when or how they arrived here, and we arrived here, and we aren’t sure what they aren’t sure what they were doing before we were doing before we got here.got here.

► Greeted European Greeted European settlers as friends and settlers as friends and helped instruct them in helped instruct them in the ways of the land; the ways of the land; however, friendly however, friendly relationship declined relationship declined near end of 17near end of 17thth century.century.

Native American LiteratureNative American Literature

►No fixed versions of literary works No fixed versions of literary works because they were all oral.because they were all oral.

►Nearly all works exhibit a deep respect Nearly all works exhibit a deep respect for nature; celebrate wonders of for nature; celebrate wonders of natural world and its connection to natural world and its connection to spiritual world.spiritual world.

►Song lyrics, hero tales, migration Song lyrics, hero tales, migration legends, and accounts of the creation. legends, and accounts of the creation.

Important Dates slide 1Important Dates slide 1

► 1517: Protestant Reformation – 1517: Protestant Reformation – Monk Martin Luther is dissatisfied with the Monk Martin Luther is dissatisfied with the

corruption in the Catholic Churchcorruption in the Catholic Church Nails his 95 theses (complaints) to the door of Nails his 95 theses (complaints) to the door of

the Wittenberg Churchthe Wittenberg Church SchismSchism

► 1529 – 1536: Church of England separates 1529 – 1536: Church of England separates from the Catholic Church because they don’t from the Catholic Church because they don’t want to be under the jurisdiction of the pope want to be under the jurisdiction of the pope (remember Henry VIII)(remember Henry VIII)

Important Dates Slide 2Important Dates Slide 2

►1558: Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary)1558: Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) Queen of EnglandQueen of England Catholic – kills all the ProtestantsCatholic – kills all the Protestants KilledKilled

►1558: Queen Elizabeth I1558: Queen Elizabeth I ProtestantProtestant

►1608: Pilgrims (sect of Puritans) go to 1608: Pilgrims (sect of Puritans) go to AmsterdamAmsterdam Leave England because not wantedLeave England because not wanted Amsterdam haven for religious rejectsAmsterdam haven for religious rejects

Important Dates Slide 3Important Dates Slide 3

►1617: Pilgrims go back to England1617: Pilgrims go back to England Kicked out of Amsterdam (even the Dutch Kicked out of Amsterdam (even the Dutch

didn’t want them)didn’t want them)

►1620: Pilgrims arrive in Americas1620: Pilgrims arrive in Americas The Mayflower, Plymouth RockThe Mayflower, Plymouth Rock Pilgrims desire their own religious land – Pilgrims desire their own religious land –

want to recreate God’s land on earthwant to recreate God’s land on earth Pilgrims want to separate from Church of Pilgrims want to separate from Church of

England and form their own churchEngland and form their own church

The PuritansThe Puritans

►Critical of the Church of England; Critical of the Church of England; wanted to reform church from within; wanted to reform church from within; purify the church (vs. Pilgrims who purify the church (vs. Pilgrims who wanted to leave the church)wanted to leave the church)

► Intended to create a model Intended to create a model community guided in all aspects by community guided in all aspects by the Biblethe Bible

►Worked under a theocracy: a state Worked under a theocracy: a state under immediate guidance from Godunder immediate guidance from God

Puritan beliefsPuritan beliefs►Humans exist for the glory of GodHumans exist for the glory of God►Bible is sole expression of God’s willBible is sole expression of God’s will►Predestination – God has already Predestination – God has already

determined who will achieve salvation and determined who will achieve salvation and who will notwho will not

►““The Puritan Ethic” - Good is obtained only The Puritan Ethic” - Good is obtained only through hard work and self-disciplinethrough hard work and self-discipline

►Also valued frugality, self-improvement, Also valued frugality, self-improvement, and self-relianceand self-reliance

►Began decline by 1750Began decline by 1750

Puritan LiteraturePuritan Literature► Dominated by religion: Dominated by religion:

theological studies, hymns, theological studies, hymns, histories, biographies, histories, biographies, autobiographiesautobiographies

► Purpose was to provide spiritual Purpose was to provide spiritual insight and instructioninsight and instruction

► Regarded fiction and drama as Regarded fiction and drama as sinfulsinful

► Used poetry as a vehicle of Used poetry as a vehicle of spiritual enlightenmentspiritual enlightenment

► Believed in a plain style of Believed in a plain style of writing that had a clear messagewriting that had a clear message

► Heavy hitters: Anne Bradstreet, Heavy hitters: Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, Increase Mather, Edward Taylor, Increase Mather, Cotton MatherCotton Mather

Cotton Mather

Anne Bradstreet

Puritan Plain StylePuritan Plain Style►Reflected style of their Reflected style of their

lives – spare, simple, lives – spare, simple, straightforwardstraightforward

►Characterized by short Characterized by short words, direct statements, words, direct statements, and references to and references to ordinary, everyday objectsordinary, everyday objects

►Only expressed useful or Only expressed useful or religious ideasreligious ideas

►Did not appeal to senses Did not appeal to senses or emotionsor emotions

Other Early LiteratureOther Early Literature

►Explorers’ Accounts: Explorers’ Accounts: Narrative accounts of Narrative accounts of voyage and discoveryvoyage and discovery

►Slave Narratives: Slave Narratives: Autobiographical Autobiographical accounts of slavery and accounts of slavery and the Middle Passagethe Middle Passage

►Southern: Unlike Southern: Unlike Puritans, did not oppose Puritans, did not oppose fiction or dramafiction or drama