Puritanism 101 Featuring all your favorite American Lit. Teachers…
PURITANISM
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Transcript of PURITANISM
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
Puritanism = a protestant movement within the Church of England. It developed during XVI-XVII century.
It was founded by some Marian after the accession of Elisabeth I, especially influenced by Calvinism
A movement against the corruption of the Catholic Church its ‘superstitious symbols: statues, stained-glass windows and sacerdotal vestment
It developed especially among the Middle Class and anti-royalists people
Utmost moment of supremacy when Puritans came to power (1642) following the English Civil War
PURITANS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
After the victory of the round-heads (anti-royalists), in the Civil War (1642) Puritanism became a powerful force
Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, founded the Commonwealth (name based on the idea of Puritanism, which believed in common richness) bringing moral and religious changes in England
Oliver Cromwell
After Cromwell’s death (1658) restoration of monarchy Puritans lost their power great Persecution of Puritans began
Most Puritans took refuge in New England (USA)
The «Mayflower», ship used by Puritans to escape
persecutions
NEW TREND OF THOUGHTS Main aim = purifying the
church Desire to reach salvation
The Bible considered as God’s true law
Belief in the Parable of the Talents
PURITANS predicted austerity entertainment considered
immoral (theaters were closed in 1642)
The Bible
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
The Parable of Talents is one of the well known parables
Main points:
God gives talents to people Everybody has to use talents correctly He who is unable to bear talents will commit
a sin as do poor people who cannot exploit them He who is able to produce goods and wealth
will improve his/her social condition and he/she will reach God’s blessing (reason why the Middle Class was mainly Puritan)
PURITANISM TODAY
As a result of persecution, Puritans left England and extablished mainly in the New World (USA)
Puritanism = based on the ideo of the increase of wealth, layed the foundations of consumerism in USA America became one of the most important world
powers