The Puritans were a group of people who grew dissatisfied with the Church of England and worked towards societal, moral and religious reforms. The writings and ideas of John Calvin, a leader in the Reformation, led to Protestantism and were critical to the Christian revolt. They contended that The Church of England had become a product of political struggles and man-made doctrines. The Puritans were one branch of separatist who decided that the Church of England was beyond reform. They broke away from the persecution of church leadership and the King to come to America.
The United States of America was not founded on Christian principles but on the enlightened principle of human rights, that all people are created equal, and endowed with certain rights, among those are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Many of the Founding Fathers were practicing Christians but they also saw Christianity becoming increasingly associated with systems of political oppression. They believed any one religion should not be forced upon its citizens and they made religious freedom the cornerstone of faith in the new republic. Their ideals are rooted in enlightenment ideals, trust of reason over revelation and emphasis on natural rights. They were part of the Age of Enlightenment that began in Europe and later came to the American colonies.
Danielle Rassi Mr. Battersby APUSH 11 September 2011 DBQ 1: The Influence of Puritan Values The Puritans were a diverse group of people who stood for religious purity. They believed that the English Reformation had not gone far enough in disposing similarities with the Church of Rome, such as hierarchy. Throughout the 1630s to the 1660s the Puritan’s valued religion and their beliefs were displayed in their life style, from the layout of their church centered town to their idea of salvation. Despite the religious rules, “brethren” community, and Puritan work ethic that influenced their social way of life and produced economic success in businesses, their utopian government fell apart at the rise of conflict between religious and profit motives as well as the clash of opposing ideas to their Puritan political system. The social structure of the New England Puritans was a brotherhood.
They settled in small villages for common religious activities. Shipbuilding, trading posts, and fishing were important in coastal towns in this region. When the Puritans landed they created a deeply religious and politically innovative culture that still influences the modern United States. They fled England to America in attempted to create a "nation of saints”. They hoped this new land would serve as a "redeemer nation".
This was also the main substance influencing America. The legacy of Puritans in American History remains controversial. Some historians laud the contributions made by the Puritans starting in 1620 in New England. But some historians denounce the Puritans for creating some of the worst characteristics of the Americans.It is believed that the reason the Puritans are such a favorite commodity of study is because tracing back their history is like tracing back the history of America. It is a well known fact that the Puritans came to America to have a religious stand.
DBQ: In what ways did ideas and values held by Puritans influence the political, economic, and social development of New England colonies from1630 to 1660s? Puritans in the 17th century endeavored to create a regimented society in the eyes of God, by means of theocracy, businesses, and communal membership resulting in improvement and decline for the New England colonies. They were best known as English Reformers with numerous documents of theological writings and sermons which became widespread over the course of the development of the colonies. The basis of their teachings came from Calvinism, and their way of life was governed on Calvinistic principles. Theocracy At the center of the town map in Document B lies the Church and the Town Hall.
A famous example of this was Martin Luther Kings ‘I have a dream’ speech, his use of religion in his passionate speech for equality helped to motivate people in society to push for social change, and ultimately changed America’s legislation and outlook on integration and equality between the black and white community in America. This shows that religion is a force for social change. Furthermore the church acts as a an ‘honest broker’ between two groups, in this case the church was the middle ground between the government and the African American community, this once again means that religion is a clear force in social change, this is because the church was capable of bringing the two communities together through religion. The church did this by spreading messages such as ‘love thy neighbour’ which promoted more equality in society, this means that the influence the church
The New England colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were conceived and established as "holy experiments" by the puritans. This group of English Protestants, whose only wish was to "purify" the Church of England, began to receive savage punishment from England for their religious beliefs. In turn, driven by religion, thousands of the religious zealots immigrated to New England to worship God in the way that they saw fit. However, although the Puritans did leave England, running from there own religious persecution, once they had established themselves they self-righteously employed the
Puritanism and its Influence on Early American Literature The Puritans had a profound effect upon American culture. As a political, social, and cultural force, Puritanism lasted until around 1728. The term "Puritan" first began as an insult applied by traditional Anglicans to those who criticized or wished to "purify" the Church of England. "Puritan" refers to two distinct groups: "separating" Puritans, such as the Plymouth colonists, who believed that the Church of England was corrupt and that true Christians must separate themselves from it; and non-separating Puritans, such as the colonists who settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who believed in reform but not separation. Ironically enough, out of these two groups, were two notable men, William Bradford and John Winthrop, whose life’s work soon became influential pieces of American literature.
Conceptions of God and Human Nature The quote “God made man in his own image, and man returned the compliment” explains God's image to man as up for open interpretation and varying from believer to believer, which applies to the Puritans and Benjamin Franklin. The Puritans that arrived in New England were frustrated with the Church of England's methods of practice because they were too closely related to Catholicism. The Puritans departed to the New World between the 16th and 17th century, in hope of purifying their religion and creating a society that properly and strictly obeyed God. The Puritan ways heavily influenced life in New England, even for the Franklin family. Benjamin Franklin was raised in a Calvinist family with Puritan foundations, but Franklin later grew to become a worldly individual through his studies and life experiences.