Transcript Colonial Period 1600-1750 - Vista Unified School District

Colonial Period
1600-1750
Puritans and Planters
Puritans
Social/Political Climate
• Early settlers not
searching for wealth
• Wanted to establish new
society and church with
available resources and
freedom of worship
• Religious law = civil law;
laws est. according to
biblical law
• Bible is model for life and
society
• Religion permeates all
aspects of life
• Status in society →
position in church
• Seriousness, simplicity,
hard work important
• Community judged as
whole → brother’s keeper
• Close-knit towns
Social/Political (cont.)
• Brought books from England
• Blame Puritans for school—needed
literate population so ministry and church
could flourish
• 1647 Mass. Bay Colony required school
• 1636 Harvard U. opened—ministry
Social/Political (cont.)
• Plymouth and
Boston—two ‘cities’
• Persecuted→
religious freedom
• God’s chosen people
• Visible saints
• Example to world→
city on hill
• Model society
Social/Political (cont.)
• Wilderness encouraged
reliance on individual and
community; no one else
to help
• New world offered
improvement, bright
future
• Abundance led to waste
• Witchcraft trials led to
decline in strength of
church over the state
Religion
• sovereignty of God, all powerful; influences
every event in Man’s life
• original sin; driven by nature to do evil deeds
• the elect are chosen for salvation to escape
eternal damnation
• Predestination→ God grants eternal life to
chosen few
• cannot earn grace through good works; must
pray and hope;
• Grace is achieved through God’s work on soul→
spiritual self examination
Religion (cont.)
• Sloth is deadly sin =
idle hands…..
• Wealth is sign of
election and grace
• If you challenge
community =
opposing God
• Dark side
• Bible is vital for
salvation
Characteristic of Literature
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To teach, NOT entertain
Poetry→ spirit. enlighten.
Message important
Writing = works of piety
and religious instruction
• Plain, simple, rational
expression
• Imagery, similes,
metaphor → detract from
purpose; mainly used
when taken from bible
Char. of Literature (cont.)
• audience = simple, plain people like
farmers and
• More info = better style
• Homey examples and expression that
appealed to readers’ experience and
understanding
• Drama slow to develop; seen as “chapel of
Satan,” corrupts playgoers
Literature and Works
• Anne Bradstreet To My Dear and Loving…
• Edward Taylor Huswifery
• Richard Mather Bay Psalm Book
• Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands…
Southern Planters
Social/Political/Religious
• Less religious
• Less rigorous climate,
easier farming
• Relatively easy life
• Relaxed
• Less introspective
• Less critical of each other
• Lack of common purpose,
beliefs of Puritans
• Gentleman = manners
important, public service
important
• Plantation society
• Settlements spread out,
few neighbors
• Plantation is center of
commerce
• Many slaves
Characteristics of Literature
• Writing seldom used
for teaching
• Mostly journals,
chronicles, letters
• Drama performed
privately, sometimes
challenged as
immoral
• Practical writings
Writers and Works
• William Byrd History of the Dividing Line
• John Smith The General History of VA
Influence on today
• Puritan beliefs—work ethic, hard work
leads to success—shaped Amer. society
and culture
• America as model for rest of world
• How to live, important values to live by still
in work of Amer. writers
Influence on Today
• “spirit of place” → wonder and diversity of
land
• Concern with land—Frost, Steinbeck
• Concern with religion—Hawthorne to
Hemingway
Relationship to Amer. Dream
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Hard work
Frugality
Self-improvement
Self-reliance
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Changes that led to next period
• Liberal Protestants arrived and attracted
followers
• Great Awakening
• Established societies had less harsh
environment
• Discontent against conformity
Next Period
• Revolutionary Period