2. Who were the Puritans? Protestant religious group that wanted to purify the Church of England and create simpler, more democratic way to worship Rejected ceremony and adornments not mentioned in the Bible

3. Left England to avoid religious persecution Create a new, pure society in North America

4. Values & Beliefs *Human beings are sinful by nature *Salvation belongs to the elect, or God’s chosen, who can be identified by virtue *Temperance *Hard work and worldly success are signs of God’s grace *Education is essential in order to read the Word of God

5. Most common forms of Puritan writing were diaries and histories The key element found in Puritan writing was how they looked for signs of God’s working in everyday life Wrote in “Plain Style” (strong, simple, logical which made the Bible accessible to all)

6. Puritans lived very pious lives because they strove for salvation Pious and virtuous on the outside; pious and virtuous on the inside Your inner soul was demonstrated by your outward behavior People examined their inner lives closely for signs of grace; they lived as well as possible hoping to please God

7. The Mayflower Compact Often called the first U.S. Constitution An agreement to work together for the good of the entire group Outlined how the Puritans would be governed once they landed in what would be America

8. Many historians feel that the Puritan ethic of thrift, hard work, and self-sufficiency contributed to the success of capitalism in the New World. Because the Puritans believed wealth was a sign of God’s favor, they strove to attain it.