What did Native Americans and Europeans have in

common? What were their

differences?

What were their main sources of disagreement?

If you could rewrite that part of American history,

what would you change (if anything)?

PURITANS1620-1750’s

History

• “Purify” the church in England• Severe persecution• 1620 – Landed in “new world”• 1640 – 20,000 arrived

Theology

• Religion was a personal experience• Original sin

– Saved [elect] and unsaved [damned]

• Call of the saved– Outward expression of beliefs– Valued exemplary lives

• Bible was the literal word of God– Source of guidance for life

Government

• Elect ran the government

• Strict and slightly undemocratic

• Constitution (over monarchy)– Power spread out

Schooling

• Education was pivotal• Founded on Bible• Surrounded families

• Harvard was founded by Puritans

William Bradford

• Prestigious background in England

• Joined non-conformists• Escaped to Holland• Traveled on Mayflower• Governor of Plymouth

• Of Plymouth Plantation

Mary Rowlandson

• Wife of minister• Victim of King Phillip’s War• Captive of Wampanoag• Story shows obedience of faith

• A Narrative of the Captivity

William Byrd

• Virginia-born• Son of wealthy land-owner• Loved theater and science

– Outlawed by Puritans• Controversial diary• Satirical exploitation

• A History of the Dividing Line

Olaudah Equiano

• First noted African author• Member of Ibo people• Stolen for slave trade• Bought freedom• Became activist in England

• The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Anne Bradstreet

• First American poet• Lover of Shakespeare• Puritan wife/daughter

• Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10, 1666

Jonathan Edwards

• Puritan preacher• Began Great Awakening revival

– Challenge to the duty of the saved• Extremist• Fought modern world and

religious world of ancestors

• Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

The Age of Reason

• Rationalism• Balance of science and religion• Deism

– People were inherently good

• Self-made Americans

Small Pox

• From West Indies• 1721 – outbreak in Boston

Benjamin Franklin

• Founder of “self-improvement”• Scientist• Lobbyist for colonies• Firefighter, salesmen, etc…

• The Autobiography

Words of Ben Franklin

• “Well done is better than well said.”

• “A good example is the best sermon.”

• “We must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately.”

Patrick Henry

• Spoke against British Stamp Act

• Grew up during Great Awakening

• Career in law• Famous speeches to

motivate

• Speech to the Virginia Convention