Colonial/ Puritan Era
BEGINNINGS TO 1800
15th Century
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Diverse American Indians spread across
continent
Great wave of European explorers started by
1490’s
Puritan Legacy
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Most famous group arrived in 1620 on Cape
Cod
Protestant group
Sought to “purify” Church of England
Wished to return to simpler form of worship—
more personal/ inner relationship with God
Puritan Beliefs
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Adam and Eve’s sin damned all
Jesus sent to save certain people
Arrival of God’s grace demonstrated by a
person’s outward behavior
Puritan Politics
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Contract existed between God and humanity
Same model for government—Mayflower
Compact
Saintly “elect” great influence on government
(often undemocratic)
The Bible
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Puritans encouraged education
Read Bible as literal word of God
Harvard established originally to train
ministers
Diaries and histories important as records of
the workings of God
Puritan Writing
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Recording God’s works in their daily lives
Simple, plain style
Driven by religious beliefs