1. PURITAN/COLONIAL LITERATURE
NOTES

2. WHY DO WE BOTHER READING THIS?
AS THE FIRST COLONISTS, THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR AMERICAN CHARACTER
MORAL, ETHICAL, AND RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS
PURITAN VALUES ARE PART OF OUR AMERICAN CHARACTERISTICS

3. PURITAN VALUES SELF RELIANCE INDUSTRIOUSNESS SIMPLICITY IN ALL THINGS
LANGUAGE
CLOTHING
LIFESTYLE
TEMPERANCE
MODERATION WITH ALCOHOL AND FOOD

4. A BRIEF HISTORY OF PURITANS AND THEIR BELIEFS
THE TERM PURITAN REFERS TO A GROUP OF PROTESTANT REFORMERS WHO SOUGHT TO PURIFY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (NAT’L GOV’T RELIGION OF ENGLAND—HEADED BY KING/QUEEN).
EVENTUALLY SOUGHT TO SEPARATE THE CHURCH FROM THE GOV’T COMPLETELY
FACED PERSECUTION AND TORTURE IN ENGLAND FOR TREASON
They called themselves pilgrims
Pilgrim: one who goes on a physical or spiritual journey to a holy place for the purposes of salvation

5. Why did the Puritans come to the Colonies?
WANTED A SIMPLER FORM OF WORSHIP
WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
WANTED TO EXPUNGE ALL CORRUPTION FROM THE CHURCH

6. Arrival in American Colonies
Led by William Bradford, the Separatists, a group of pilgrims, try to find religious freedom in Holland
Left Holland after 12 years for American Colonies
Established a theocracy in Massachusetts Bay Colony
Theocracy: a form of government in which a single religion and it’s laws and rules are enforced by the government
Bradford is elected governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1621—held position for next 30 years
Wrote “Of Plymouth Plantation” for the express purpose of inspiring future generations of Puritans
Understanding what their ancestors had endured for religious freedom
Maintain the faith

7. KEY BELIEFS PROVIDENCE: DIVINE DIRECTION OR GUIDANCE; THE WILL OF GOD
BRADFORD ATTRIBUTES SEVERAL EVENTS, BOTH GOOD AND BAD, TO PROVIDENCE
SQUANTO’S ARRIVAL
DEATH OF THE PROFANE SAILOR AND THE RESCUE OF HOWLAND

8. Key Beliefs
PREDESTINATION: The doctrine that God has foreordained all things, especially that God has elected certain souls to eternal salvation.
THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR PURITANS, BECAUSE THEY NEVER REALLY KNEW IF THEY WERE SAVED OR DAMNED
IF YOU WERE SAVED….
YOU WOULD “FEEL” GOD’S GRACE
YOUR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR WOULD BE A LIVING MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S GRACE—YOU ARE “REBORN” AND BEHAVE LIKE A SAINT

9. Problems with Predestination?
SINCE NO ONE EVER REALLY KNEW IF THEY WERE SAVED OR DAMNED, SOME WOULD “FAKE IT” FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS
LED TO CLOSE SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION OF DAILY LIFE, LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF GOD’S GRACE
ALSO LED TO THE JUDGING OF OTHERS AND THE CONCERN ABOUT HOW YOUR NEIGHBORS PERCEIVED YOU

10. CHARACTERISTICS OF PURITAN WRITING
BORING…DRY…BLAH!
WHY?
USED GENEVA BIBLE AS A MODEL
DIRECT, SIMPLE LANGUAGE
PLAIN STYLE STRESSED CLARITY OF EXPRESSION AND AVOIDED COMPLICATED FIGURES OF SPEECH

11. CHARACTERISTICS OF PURITAN WRITING
SAW EACH INDIVIDUAL LIFE AS A JOURNEY TO SALVATION (OR DAMNATION) AND DREW PARALLELS BETWEEN THEIR OWN LIVES AND STORIES IN THE BIBLE
EXPLORED BOTH THEIR INNER, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THEIR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR FOR SIGNS OF GOD’S GRACE
BECAUSE THEY SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN SELF REFLECTION, THEIR WRITING COMES IN 4 FORMS
LETTERS
DIARIES AND JOURNALS
HISTORIES
CAPTIVITY NARRATIVES
These are considered to be PRIMARY SOURCES because they offer direct, first hand knowledge of events