European Influence on American Indians and Puritan Beliefs: Encounters and Foundations to 1800

1. Think about… English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

2. What effect did the Europeans have on the American Indians? Who were the Puritans and what were their beliefs? How did rationalism differ from Puritanism? What effect did rationalism have on the new American political system? Think about…before reading pages 6-19 English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

3. What did the European settlers gain from the American Indians? • Survival skills • Canoe and shelter creation • Buckskin clothing creation • Crop planting English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

4. What did the American Indians gain from the European settlers? • Firearms • Textiles • Steal tools English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

5. Europeans brought diseases with them when they settled the New World to which American Indians had never been exposed. Smallpox epidemic: April1721, Boston Puritan minister Cotton Mather (1663-1728) First scholarly essay on medicine in America “Let us look upon sin as the cause of sickness” Inoculation-Turkish Physician (Muslim) Mather inoculated nearly 300 people only 6 of these died in the epidemic 6,000 other people contracted the disease of these about 850 died English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

6. Why did explorers emphasize America’s resources, hospitable inhabitants, and unlimited wealth? They hoped to receive funding for further expeditions. Cabeza de Vaca was one explorer…stranded in Texas… …both a captive and companion of Indians (page 9) English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

7. Who were the Puritans? Why did they venture to the New World? The Puritan’s wanted to “purify” the Church of England, which since Henry VIII had been inseparable from the country’s government. They wanted a simple form of worship and church organization. They viewed religion as a personal, inner experience without the need for another human intermediary. In the New World, they hoped to create a new society patterned after God’s word. English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

8. What are some tenets of Puritan belief? They believed that because of “original sin” – Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God – most of humanity would be damned to hell. They believed that Jesus was sent to save some people – God’s “elect.” Unfortunately, no certainty existed for them as to whether they were one of the “elect” (saved by grace) or one of the “unregenerate” – the damned. English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

9. What are some tenets of Puritan belief? They believed that receiving God’s grace (free gift of forgiveness) was an intense inward emotional experience (one could feel it). After receiving this grace, a Puritan was “reborn” as a saint, living his life outwardly as a reflection of his inward beliefs. Therefore, outward behavior was a witness, or example, to those around them. English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

10. A summary of the tenets of Puritan belief • Humans are sinful by nature • Most are damned for eternity • Salvation belongs to the elect (who are outwardly virtuous) • Hard work and worldly success are signs of God’s grace • People should live in thrifty, self-reliant, and simple ways. These same qualities of thrift, self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity helped them survive in the New World. English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

11. Puritan Politics /The Bible in America • God has a contract (covenant) with His people • Puritans entered into a contractual government called • the Mayflower Compact, outlining how they would be • governed once they landed in the New World. • Puritan’s viewed the Bible as literal. • The Bible provided Puritan’s with a model for their writing. • Each Puritan’s life was a “journey to salvation” and they looked • for close connections between biblical events and their lives. • Diaries and histories • Plain style: clarity of expression – no “frills” English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

12. The Salem Witch Trials • 1691-1692 Salem, Massachusetts • Twenty people executed • Two girls dabbled in magic; lesions • They accused Sarah Good and Sarah • Osborne and slave Titubaof bewitching them. • Tituba confessed to save her life; claimed a coven existed • Witch hunt began • Cotton Mather: Witchcraft epidemic proved New England was • a holy place because the Devil was interested in it. • mass hysteria • Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

13. 1740-1745 Religious Revival called the Great Awakening • 1741 Jonathan Edwards’ sermon • “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” The Great Awakening English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

14. Age of Reason or the Enlightenment • Rationalists: • Arrive at truth by reason rather than religion or intuition • God created universe, but does not interfere with it • World operates according to God’s rules, • which people can discover • through reason • People are basically good and perfectible • People worship God best • by helping others • Humans progress toward a more perfect existence English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

15. Age of Reason or the Enlightenment • Deism: • an outlook shared by eighteenth-century thinkers • God has made it possible for all people at all times to • discover natural laws through their • God-given power of reason. • Deists came from different • religious backgrounds • Universe is orderly and good; Humanity is good • Best form of worship is to help others – social welfare • Prominent revolutionaries: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Thomas Paine English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”

16. Self-made Americans • Literature • Rooted in reality • Pamphlets-practical or social ends • Autobiographies (narrative writing): • The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin • The idea of a “self-made man” or “self-made woman” Slavery in America • Legal • Growing English III – American Literature “Encounters and Foundations to 1800”