Beginnings – American Literature
They (Puritans) set sail from
England with a dream. Their new
nation would be a guiding light. It
would be and example for the
whole world. John Winthrop spoke
of the new land as a “City upon a
Hill”.
John Winthrop – prominent Puritan
minister
The Lord will be our God and delight to
dwell among us, as His own people, and…
Command a blessing upon us in all our
ways..”
…
President Ronald Reagan Nov. 25, 1982
I have always believe that this anointed
land was set apart in
an uncommon way, that
a divine plan places this great continent
here between the oceans to be found by
people
From every corner of the Earth who had a
special love of faith and freedom.
Brief History of the beginnings
•Protestant Reformation – 1517
•Martin Luther posted 95 thesis on
Wittenberg Cathedral. The church saw
him as a heretic
•He deemphasized the church ritual
and the priesthood.
•He stressed the significance of one’s
inner light and the ability to obtain it.
HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS
PROTESTANT – Switzerland, Germany, and
parts of France and eventually England and
parts of Scotland
•Gave rise to the Protestant (protest) religion
•Catholic church strong in Spain and
Italy and parts of France and
Germany
Columbus
1492
Columbus believed he found a passage to India and
continued to think he found it until he died.
This was based on his belief in a Biblical reference.
He saw his fulfillment from Isaiah 11: 10-12: “And he
shall set up an ensign for the nations.”
Amerigo Vespucci 1501
Portuguese sailor who sailed to
Brazil. He lied and said he found
America in 1497 to get around the
fact that Columbus landed in
Venezuela on his third voyage in
1498.
Martin Waldseemulerr
1507
Obscure German map maker who
came across Vespucci’s work and
decided this new land
be called Amerigo – and he wrote
America across a map in 1507
Sir Walter Raleigh 1587
• 150 men women and children disappeared
• Some people claim they were either absorbed
into the Croatan tribe or slaughtered by them
• The only evidence they found were the letters
Cro on a tree
• Virginia named after the Virgin Queen
Elizabeth
Jamestown 1607 Captain John Smith
• Algonquians had an on and off again
relationship with the settlers
• The marriage between John Rolfe and
Pochontas helped briefly
• Many of the new settlers were wealthy and
did not know how to work the land
England’s motives
• Desire to weaken Spain and France
• Eager merchants to secure high profits in
foreign trade
• England was overpopulated and wanted to
send laborers abroad
• Desire to win converts to the Protestant
religion
Pilgrims 1620
• Separatists who did not believe the Church of
England could change
• Lived in Holland for a time
• Landed in New England instead of Virginia in
the fall
• Unprepared for the harsh winter
• Mayflower Compact established a peace
agreement that all would work together
Puritans 1630
• Puritans wanted to “purify the church”
• Wanted to do away with clerical vestments,
stained glass and the use of incense
• Strict lifestyle – reading the Bible and work
• Government had to follow the law of God
Both Puritans and Pilgrims
• Adam and Eve disobeyed God and fell from
grace. Everyone after that was evil. People
are born sinful.
• Except for a special elect who were chosen by
God
• The soul had to realize how sinful it was with
the help of the minister’s sermon
1642
• 20,000 people had immigrated to New
England to enter colonial life dominated by
Puritans
• Believed the end was coming soon and they
were creating the “New Eden” in America
• This land was put here specifically for them
• Idea of Manifest Destiny
Vocabulary
• Theocracy – church officials run the
government – Theology – the study of God
• Indigenous – native to the area
• Temperance – moderation, self restraint
• Predestination – to decide or decree in
advance
• Covenant – A promise
• Patriarchal – Male leaders