PURITANISM and AMERICA

• Strict Form of PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY; religion rules all

• Brutally persecuted by the British because they wanted to “purify” the Church of England

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION?

“Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also …Love your enemies.” –Jesus, Gospel of Matthew

• Unfortunately, the Puritans aren’t heroes of religious freedom…

• They escaped the Church of England’s persecution, but set up a system that persecuted non-Puritans

• There was no option to NOT be Puritan … obey or be punished!

THE PURITAN THEOCRACY

• The Puritans landed @ Plymouth Rock• They founded a theocratic planter colony• Theocracy: government based on religion

(No Separation of Church and State) • They believed this theocratic colony

would be like a “Shining City on a Hill” to other nations in its extreme Holiness

The 3 Major Puritan Values

• Simplicity – Fancy stuff is the Devil’s work!• Grace – God is in control. He’s already

decided, so open your heart to Him and accept.

• Divine Mission – We, the Puritans, are God’s chosen, and He wants us to create a “Holy Place” in America

• (It’s all about God, God, God.)

Pause and Reflect:

• What would you say was the Puritans’ “American Dream”?

The First “American” Poet: ANNE BRADSTREET

•

-Puritan fanatic-Simple, “plain” style-Big Influence: God-2 poems: “Upon the Burning of Our House” “To my Dear and Loving Husband”

“UPON THE BURNING OF OUR HOUSE”

• Read the poem with a partner and answer the following questions together:• “Upon the Burning of Our House” insists that worldly

goods should not be loved too intensely, for they perish or must be given up. Where in the poem does Bradstreet remind herself not to have too much affection for earthly things?

• What does Bradstreet refer to in lines 43-47 when she speaks of a “house on high”?

• How does her awareness of this “house” help console her for her loss of the first house?

“TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND”

Published 1678; expresses Puritan values

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me ye women if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay;The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevere, That when we live no more we may live ever.

PAUSE AND REFLECT:

• Anne Bradstreet’s poems deal with two important Puritan themes: domestic life and God. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” concerns a happy marriage. It describes the greatness of the poet’s love for her husband and of his love for her. Through what details does Bradstreet suggest the intensity of their love and the fact that the love is mutual?

• How does this fit in today?

•How is Bradstreet’s view of a woman’srole different from modern ideas likethe WWII era- “Rosie the Riveter?”

YOUR CHALLENGE:

• Become an observant, modern American. By _______________________, you need to identify:• Something today that reminds you of Puritanism• Something today that directly contradicts Puritanism

• You must post both of your findings on the English 2 Blog on mskrug.weebly.com. You must also respond to another student’s post – explain why you agree or disagree with that student.

• Guidelines:• Write in conventional, standard English – just as you would in an essay• Your post should be at least 8 sentences long• Do not post anything you would not want your parents to read• Do not use your full name – first name and class period only (use last

initial if necessary)

William Bradford (1590-1657):

• Joined the Puritans at a young age

• Mayflower: the ship that brought them across

• His wife “fell” overboard … it was more likely suicide (hard journey)

• Became governor of the colony at Plymouth Rock

• Wrote their stories in his journals, later published: “Of Plymouth Plantation”

William Bradford

• Strongly believed that America could be God’s Holy Land• Alternately accepted help from and

fought against the Native Americans• Ended his life disappointed that Puritanism was dying out

Journal:WILLIAM BRADFORD WROTE “OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION” TO INFORM EUROPEANS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AND LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD. WRITE ABOUT A TIME YOU MOVED OR TOOK A TRIP. DESCRIBE THE JOURNEY AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU ARRIVED. WERE YOU SURPRISED BY WHAT YOU FOUND WHEN YOU GOT THERE?

Journal #2October 1, 2013

• Worry is one thing. But what about fear? What’s your biggest fear?

• Every person has a few big fears, but what is your “number one”?

• Write about it, and, if you can, think about and write about why you’re afraid of that thing, and where you think your fear might have come from.

JONATHAN EDWARDS• Age 17, experienced “Grace”; became preacher

• Great Awakening: religious (Puritan?) revival, 1735-1742

• Displeased many churchgoers w/scary sermons

• Most famous: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” … won many converts

EDWARDS’S PERSUASIVE STRATEGIES

• Fear (Scary Imagery = Hell, God’s Wrath)

• Repetition (Emphasizes words like YOU, HELL)

• Bandwagon (Peer Pressure: Join us!)

• Card Stacking (Focus on the positives )

• “Limited Time Offer” / “Act Now!” (Creates a feeling of urgency in the crowd)

As you read:

• Use your notes to highlight examples of persuasive strategies in Edwards’ sermon

• After you read, answer the following questions in your notebook:• According to the opening paragraph, what keeps sinners from falling

into hell? According to Edwards, what do his listeners mistakenly feel keeps them from falling into hell?

• How does Edwards attempt to convince listeners to join his religion?• What memorable images does he use to describe God’s wrath? Why?• Toward the end of the sermon, what does Edwards say sinners can

obtain? What must sinners do to obtain these things? • Why do you think that Edwards is so convinced God is “angry,” when

the Christian faith describes God as loving?

Journal:

Think of your favorite commercial or product. What do you like about the commercial or the product? What persuaded you to buy it? Have you ever seen a misleading commercial? (Ask Ms. Krug about this one )