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 [condemned]

• Call of the saved– Outwardly expressed 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• Did not fully

support monarchy– Power spread out

Schooling• Education was essential—at least

for men• Founded on Bible

• 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

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

– Directly confronted sinners• Extremist• Used similes and metaphors

extensively• Helped establish the concept of being

“born again”• 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

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