Piety In Early American Culture

Although European colonists traveled to colonial New England for a variety of reasons, they embraced Christianity as the primary purpose for their journeys. Furthermore, religion had a profound effect on everyday society and political hierarchies. From enforced morality to Indian conflicts, religion tended to destabilize numerous colonies and even led to unjustifiable atrocities like the Salem Witch Trials. Nevertheless, without a religious influence, the timeline of New World progression and territory would have been suspended indefinitely. Because religion primarily influenced the establishment of the colonies and numerous aspects of politics, it played an integral role in colonial New England society.

This keeps the motivation for “The Americans of tomorrow, the America that is everyday nearer coming to be” , and strives the people to “...be too wise, too open-hearted, and too friendly handed” (22). This evidence demonstrates how Americans act now and how they shall act in the future to show love to the fellow citizens that have passed away for this country. Perseverance can grow into anguish, which can be “From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour.” Through the dedication of an American's craft, they will be gifted and “...rewarded by amble subsistence” (29). This quotation notes that hard work and taking risks will reward you with talents and gifts that will be given to you in the present or

The ideal most important to early colonists’ survival and success was piety. One way we see this is in William Bradford’s text, “Of Plymouth Plantation”. Bradford states, “Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity.” This explains the pilgrim’s belief, that without God they would have succumbed to the harsh way of life. Piety in this moment was vital to the pilgrim’s survival, without their strong belief in God they wouldn’t have had the will to survive. Evidence of piety can also be seen in “A Model of Christian Charity”, by John Winthrop. “We must delight in each other, make others’ conditions

There are 3 main ideals and values that early American writers found worth while to write about. These ideals are piety, courage, and industry. The main reason that early writers thought of piety as an important value is their religion. A majority of early Americans and the authors of just about every work we have read were very strong in their Puritan religious beliefs.

"When God gives a special commission He looks to have it strictly observed in every article... Thus stands the cause between God and us." (Withrop, 15) The Puritan America Dream focuses on 3 main aspects, those being religion, hard work, and freedom. Puritans believed that they needed God in order to live a fulfilling life, and that God would show them the correct path of life. Religion was very important to them and was one of the largest parts of the Puritan's American Dream. "They had provided a place for theirs goods or common store... and begun some small cottages for their habitation." (Bradford, 5) The next aspect is hard work, these people believed that you needed to work hard for everything in life. Examples would be building their

In the early 1800's America began to create their own unique culture. For the longest time, America had been getting their ideas and being influenced by other countries. I believe that they wanted to create a new type of culture that was truly American. They did this by creating new art forms such as literature, music, painting, and architecture. For example, Americans began using characters and setting that fell into the "American" category. Most characters, were "portrayed as strong, brave, resourceful, and honorable" (chapter 6-3, page 323). Another thing Americans did different, is what they built things. "American architects of the early 1800s developed their own forms of building" (chapter 6-3, page 325). Based on ideas from Greece and

Religion played a key role in colonial America and caused a great deal of conflict and confusion among the colonist. There were religions in the New World that did not tolerate each other. Some people, like the Quakers, wanted religious freedom from the Puritans. Some people believed in strange superstitions that alienated non-believers. Some people believed government and religion should be the same although government eventually became separated from religion. If the New World in the colonies was to be successful for the most people, the conflict between the many religions would have to be addressed.

Religious authority had an effect on virtually all groupings in Colonial North America. The religious institutions of all denominations held authority over their congregations, as well as their intended converts. Moreover, some churches, such as those found in the Puritan colonies, were not altogether removed from the governments in their region as one might equate to modern-day North American governing. Nonetheless, there would soon be a shift in power as the First Great Awakening commenced, and the people began to assume control. Religious authority, or the lack thereof, would influence countless groups and individuals alike.

The title of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter refers to the literal symbol of ignominy that Hester Prynne’s community forces her to wear as a reminder of her sin. Though the word “ignominy” is used in sympathetic passages that describe Hester Prynne’s disgrace as an adulteress and out-of-wedlock mother, its use at the same time reveals an extremely critical description of Hester’s community; Hawthorne finds that what is truly disgraceful is the way the community relishes and exploits the opportunity to punish one of its members.

Eighteenth century New England was a place of spiritual revival affecting more than just unevangelized colonists but people of all races and religions, including Native Americans. Between the years 1700 and 1820, there was a series of movements, known collectively as the Great Awakening, which consisted of localized religious resurgences that involved several denominations of Christianity. The objective of the Great Awakening was to spread the word of Christ to those who had not yet had a spiritual experience with Him. Native Americans were greatly exposed to the Great Awakening through a number of methods used by the colonists including sermons and the institution of Christian boarding schools for Native children. Each individual Indian responded to the revival in their own unique way, some denouncing Christianity, some embracing it, and some feeling indifferent towards it; however, throughout the course of the book, The Indian Great Awakening: Religion and the Shaping of Native Cultures in North America, author Linford Fisher reestablishes the idea that there was Indian conversion to Christianity, and explains that Native Americans at this time were more likely to affiliate themselves with the church rather than to fully convert.

Colonial New England ideologies were strictly religious in their puritan beliefs. Clergymen were highly educated and forced religious practices in the name of being righteous and holy. Conformity to religion was not considered a rational choice to those that were forced unto American soil and forced to live a way of life so different than their own. Enslaved Africans brought with them their own religious, marriage and funeral, and medicinal practices. These practices prompted radical puritans to fear these religious traditions that were so unlike their own, condemning blacks and the various ways they expressed hope in oppression. McMillan states, “As blacks occupied the lowest rung within society, their ability to survive the ordeals of

I found that the religious views throughout the early thirteen colonies were most appealing to me. During the 1770s, many Americans living in these colonies were either Protestant or of no religion at all. As years passed and more people started to move into the colonies, some of the colonies saw more religious views starting to grow. Two of the main religions introduced to the colonies were Judaism and Roman Catholic. Jewish synagogues were built and Roman Catholics started to form churches with priests, which helped people to learn more about these new and growing religions. John Calvin introduced Christianity in these churches, leading almost 80% of Americans to Christianity. There were many religions introduced all through the colonies,

In the late 1600's and early 1700's, Christianity was alive and well. It helped the early settlers when travelling the three month long voyage to the new world. While dealing with sea illnesses, harsh weather, and damage to the ship, they all still held faith in god. They believed that he was the reason they got through it all. After landing, they had to deal with the natives, and the struggles then. Through it all, their love for god persevered. However, as time went on, people in the colonies started falling off. They stopped believing in the religion.

The Protestants felt like everything they have worked so hard for was going to be taken away. They did not want to go back to the old way of believing, and give up their new ways of preaching to the people.

.In the new world there are two dominant religions that we see in the readings which were the puritans and the Catholics. Even though both of this religions had may differences they also had some similarities. A similarity that seems commend in both religions is that they both believe that all actions and results were the way they happened because of god. Puritans believe that the rich people were rich and the poor people were poor because god wanted them to be that way (23). The Jesuits believe that they were send to the new world because and that god wanted them to teach and improve the believes of the natives because god wanted them to do so (37). They both believe that there is one god and Jesus Christ was the son of god (24, 31). They strongly believe in the bounds of love and need to help and give to your neighbor (24).