Beginnings to 1800

Historical/Cultural Events 1492:Christopher Columbus lands on an island in the Bahamas. 1492:Christopher Columbus lands on an island in the Bahamas.

More Historical/Cultural Events 1607: Settlement founded at Jamestown, Virginia

Still More… 1620: Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth 1620: Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth

And More… Twenty people executed in Salem witch trials in American Revolution begins in Declaration of Independence signed July 4, American Revolutionary War ends with the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781.

Almost Finished… George Washington inaugurated as first president in George Washington inaugurated as first president in Washington, D.C. becomes capital of US in Washington, D.C. becomes capital of US in 1800.

Literary Events Between 1630 and 1682, many true narratives and poems by Puritans and pilgrims are published. Between 1728 and 1785 the literature takes on the plight of the Native Americans, the human condition, and the British government.

Settlers People first migrated to North America from twenty to over forty thousand years ago. When the first Europeans arrived in the fifteenth century, American Indians were living in diverse societies spread across the continent. People first migrated to North America from twenty to over forty thousand years ago. When the first Europeans arrived in the fifteenth century, American Indians were living in diverse societies spread across the continent. The Europeans arrive first: Columbus, Coronado, and many authors. All emphasize the Americas’ abundant resources, hospitable inhabitants, and the promise of wealth from fantastic treasuries of gold. These enthusiastic accounts led to increased expeditions to what Renaissance Europeans saw as the New World. The Europeans arrive first: Columbus, Coronado, and many authors. All emphasize the Americas’ abundant resources, hospitable inhabitants, and the promise of wealth from fantastic treasuries of gold. These enthusiastic accounts led to increased expeditions to what Renaissance Europeans saw as the New World.

The Puritans While the explorers’ accounts were exciting, they were not central to the development of the American literary tradition the way the Puritans were. While the explorers’ accounts were exciting, they were not central to the development of the American literary tradition the way the Puritans were. In many respects, the American character has been shaped by the moral, ethical, and religious convictions of the Puritans. In many respects, the American character has been shaped by the moral, ethical, and religious convictions of the Puritans.

Who Were They? The Puritans were single-minded visionaries convinced of the rightness of their beliefs, but they were also practical and businesslike. The Puritans were single-minded visionaries convinced of the rightness of their beliefs, but they were also practical and businesslike. They felt that Christian worship and church organization shuld be simplified in order to more closely resemble Biblical models. They felt that Christian worship and church organization shuld be simplified in order to more closely resemble Biblical models. Many Puritans were persecuted for their beliefs and fled England for Holland and ultimately, for North America. Many Puritans were persecuted for their beliefs and fled England for Holland and ultimately, for North America.

What Were Their Beliefs? Puritans believed that Adam and Eve’s sin had damned most people for all eternity. They also believed that Jesus Christ had been sent to earth to save particular people, known as the “elect”. It was difficult to know for certain if one was saved or damned, so the Puritans tried to behave in as exemplary a manner as possible. Puritans believed that Adam and Eve’s sin had damned most people for all eternity. They also believed that Jesus Christ had been sent to earth to save particular people, known as the “elect”. It was difficult to know for certain if one was saved or damned, so the Puritans tried to behave in as exemplary a manner as possible.

The Effects of Their Beliefs Puritan belief in a spiritual compact between God and humanity paved the way for American constitutional democracy. Puritan belief in a spiritual compact between God and humanity paved the way for American constitutional democracy. The Puritans emphasized education so that people could read and understand the Bible and follow religious debates. Diaries and histories were important forms of Puritan literature. The Puritans emphasized education so that people could read and understand the Bible and follow religious debates. Diaries and histories were important forms of Puritan literature.

The Age of Reason By the end of the 17 th century, new ideas that had been growing in Europe began to present a challenge to the unshakable faith of the Puritans. By the end of the 17 th century, new ideas that had been growing in Europe began to present a challenge to the unshakable faith of the Puritans. The Age of Reason, or Enlightenment, began in Europe with the philosophers and scientists of the 17 th and 18 th centuries who called themselves rationalists. The Age of Reason, or Enlightenment, began in Europe with the philosophers and scientists of the 17 th and 18 th centuries who called themselves rationalists. Rationalism is the belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuition. Rationalism is the belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuition.

Rationalism The Puritans saw God as actively and mysteriously involved in the workings of the universe. The Puritans saw God as actively and mysteriously involved in the workings of the universe. The rationalist, such as Sir Isaac Newton, saw God differently. Newton compared God to a clockmaker who, having created the perfect mechanism of the universe, then left the creation to run on its own like a clock. The rationalist, such as Sir Isaac Newton, saw God differently. Newton compared God to a clockmaker who, having created the perfect mechanism of the universe, then left the creation to run on its own like a clock.

Tinkerers and Experimenters Rationalists believed God’s special gift to humanity was reason – the ability to think in an ordered, logical manner. This enabled people to discover both scientific and spiritual truth. Everyone, then, had the capacity to regulate and improve his or her life. Rationalists believed God’s special gift to humanity was reason – the ability to think in an ordered, logical manner. This enabled people to discover both scientific and spiritual truth. Everyone, then, had the capacity to regulate and improve his or her life. The theoretical background for the Age of Reason took place in Europe, but a home-grown practicality and interest in scientific tinkering and experimenting already thrived in the American Colonies. The theoretical background for the Age of Reason took place in Europe, but a home-grown practicality and interest in scientific tinkering and experimenting already thrived in the American Colonies. For example, when smallpox struck Boston in 1721, Cotton mather, a Puritan minister who had a strong interest in medicine, introduced the idea of inoculation to prevent smallpox from becoming an unstoppable epidemic. For example, when smallpox struck Boston in 1721, Cotton mather, a Puritan minister who had a strong interest in medicine, introduced the idea of inoculation to prevent smallpox from becoming an unstoppable epidemic. Many people disagreed with his actions and were not inoculated, but scientific proof demonstrated his new idea, taken from a Turkish physician, truly worked. Many people disagreed with his actions and were not inoculated, but scientific proof demonstrated his new idea, taken from a Turkish physician, truly worked.

Deism Rationalists, unlike Puritans, believed that God made it possible for ALL people at ALL times to discover natural laws through their God- given power of reason. Rationalists, unlike Puritans, believed that God made it possible for ALL people at ALL times to discover natural laws through their God- given power of reason. This outlook, called Deism, was shared by many 18 th century thinkers. This outlook, called Deism, was shared by many 18 th century thinkers. They believed the universe was orderly and good. Unlike the Puritans, deists stressed humanity’s goodness. They believed the universe was orderly and good. Unlike the Puritans, deists stressed humanity’s goodness.

Self-Made Americans Most of the literature written in the American Colonies during the Age of Reason was rooted in reality and in pamphlet form. The masterpiece of the revolutionary era is Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. Franklin took the Puritan impulse toward self-examination and molded it into the classic American rags-to-riches story – the triumph of the self-made person.

The End All information in this PowerPoint can be found in the Elements of Literature textbook between pages 4 and 18. All information in this PowerPoint can be found in the Elements of Literature textbook between pages 4 and 18. All images used were taken from Google images. All images used were taken from Google images.