Beginnings – American Literature They (Puritans) set sail from England with a dream. Their new nation would be a guiding light. It would be and example for the whole world. John Winthrop spoke of the new land as a “City upon a Hill”.

England motives Desire to weaken Spain and France Mechents wanted high profits in foreign trade Wanted to send laborers abroad to lessen overpopulation Protestants seeking a new way of life Increase the nation’s wealth

Sir Walter Raleigh 1587 Lost Colony of Roanoke 150 men, women, children disappeared and no one knows exactly what happened to them Claims that the Croatan Indians either helped them or slaughtered them.

Captain John Smith 1607 Virginia – named after virgin Queen Jamestown – most successful early American colony Algonquian Indians had an on and off again relationship with the settlers Only 60 of the 214 settlers survived. Wedding of Pocahontas and John Rolfe helped relations for awhile.

Pilgrims Pilgrims arrived

John Winthrop – prominent Puritan minister … The Lord will be our God and delight to dwell among us, as His own people, and… Command a blessing upon us in all our ways..”

President Ronald Reagan Nov. 25, 1982 I have always believe that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way, that a divine plan places this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people From every corner of the Earth who had a special love of faith and freedom.

Brief History of the beginnings Protestant Reformation – 1517 Martin Luther posted 95 thesis on Wittenberg Cathedral. The church saw him as a heretic He deemphasized the church ritual and the priesthood. He stressed the significance of one’s inner light and the ability to obtain it. Gave rise to the Protestant (protest) religion Catholic church strong in Spain and Italy and parts of France and Germany Protestant – Switzerland, Germany, and parts of France and eventually England And Scotland

Columbus 1492 Columbus believed he found a passage to India and continued to think he found it based on his belief in a Biblical reference. He saw his fulfillment from Isaiah 11: 10-12: “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations.”

Amerigo Vespucci 1501 Portuguese sailor who sailed to Brazil. He lied and said he found America in 1497 to get around the fact that Columbus landed in Venezuela on his third voyage in 1498.

Martin Waldseemulerr 1507 Obscure German map maker who came across Vespucci’s work and decided this new land be called Amerigo – and he wrote America across a map in 1507