Native American Literature and Culture Notes Native American literature was entirely oral. This is referred to as the ORAL TRADITION. There was tremendous diversity among Native American tribes—different languages, government, social organization, customs, housing, and methods of survival There’s no written history of the Native American tribes. What we know of them we know from songs, legends, and myths.

Native American Literature and Culture Notes Native Americans usually (but not always) greeted the European settlers as friends, introduced them to their agriculture and methods. As a thank you, the European settlers gave the Native Americans awful diseases such as syphilis and smallpox. Native American literature reflects a deep respect for nature and the natural world

Creation Myth Assignment Write a short creation myth that explains the origin of either a natural phenomenon, an animal, or a geographic location. Your myth should be at minimum ½ page long. If you have extra time, you may illustrate your myth for 10 extra points.

PILGRIMS and PURITANS Puritans, came over on the Mayflower in 1620—left Europe because they were dissatisfied with the corruption (or lack of PURITY) in the Church of England. (puritans, a.k.a., pilgrims, separatists) The Plymouth settlement survived mostly because the pilgrims received help from the Native Americans Massachusetts Bay Colony, also religious reformers, sought to reform the church from within. They set up a “city on a hill,” a model community guided in all aspects by the Bible. The form of government was a theocracy, a state under the immediate guidance of God.

Central Beliefs of Puritans Human beings exist for the glory of God Bible is the sole expression of God’s will Predestination—Calvin’s doctrine that God has already decided who will achieve salvation and who will not. Good can only be accomplished through continual hard work and self-discipline, a principle that is today known as the “Puritan ethic.”

The Great Awakening The Great Awakening sought to revive the declining Puritan way of life, and was led by eloquent ministers such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. –The Great Awakening attracted many people, but mostly emboldened the growing Protestant sects, and Puritan society continued to decline. Some Puritan values, however—such as hard work, frugality, self-improvement, and self- reliance—remain at the core of the American character.