The Puritan InfluenceThe Puritan Influence1620-1760

Who Are the Puritans?Who Are the Puritans?

The Puritans are a group of people who became discontent with the Church of England. They wanted to ‘purify’ the church, but decided the Church of England was beyond reform. So, to escape persecution from church leadership and the King, they came to America.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs

Human beings are inherently evil and so must struggle to overcome their sinful nature.

Personal salvation depends solely on the grace of God, not on individual effort. (Predestination!)

The Bible is the supreme authority on earth.Hard word and worldly success are signs of

God's grade.

Puritan ValuesPuritan Values

Self-relianceHard workDisciplineReligion is the

center of their lives and their education revolves around religion.

Why Puritans read the BibleWhy Puritans read the Bible

1. As a story of the creation, fall, wanderings, and rescue of the human race which could be applied to one’s own life.

2. Because they believed the Bible to be the literal word of God.

Puritan Government Puritan Government

Theocracy-government officials who are to be divinely guided; therefore, if a person wants to question an official, then they are going against God’s will.

Characteristics of Puritan Characteristics of Puritan WritingWriting

Bible as modelDiaries and HistoriesPlain style-usually valued clarity

over figures of speech

The Puritan Legacy…The Puritan Legacy…

“Protestant work ethic”-willingness to work hard for survival

Established a free public grammar school.

Established Harvard Collegeguilt

Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)