1. The Puritan Influence

3. The Puritans are a group of people who became discontent with the Church of England. They wanted to ‘purify’ the church, but decided the Church of England was beyond reform. So, to escape persecution from church leadership and the King, they came to America.
Who Are the Puritans?

4. Human beings are inherently evil and so must struggle to overcome their sinful nature.
Personal salvation depends solely on the grace of God, not on individual effort. (Predestination!)
The Bible is the supreme authority on earth.
Hard word and worldly success are signs of God's grade.
Puritan Beliefs

5. Puritan Values Self-reliance Hard work Discipline
Religion is the center of their lives and their education revolves around religion.
Puritan Values

6. Why Puritans read the Bible
As a story of the creation, fall, wanderings, and rescue of the human race which could be applied to one’s own life.
Because they believed the Bible to be the literal word of God.
Why Puritans read the Bible

7. Theocracy-government officials who are to be divinely guided; therefore, if a person wants to question an official, then they are going against God’s will.
Theocracy—government officials who are to be divinely guided.
Puritan Government

8. Characteristics of Puritan Writing
Bible as model
Diaries and Histories
Plain style-usually valued clarity over figures of speech
Characteristics of Puritan Writing

9. “Protestant work ethic”- willingness to work hard for survival
Established a free public grammar school.
Established Harvard College
guilt
The Puritan Legacy…

10. Anne Bradstreet ( )

11. Jonathan Edwards ( )