Puritans Impact On American Society

One area that has been shaped by Puritan influence is public education. Puritans created the first free formal school in 1635 called Roxbury Latin School. The objective was for everyone to be capable to learn to read and have a better educated Puritan society. Consequently, the institution was so remarkably influential that just four years later, the first college, Harvard, was formed. Even younger kids, mostly ages 6-8, were able to attend a Dame school where they studied how to read. This system has many similarities to our public education system today. Children today go to elementary school where basic reading, writing, and math is taught, which can be

Some of the Puritans’ main focuses were spreading their culture and faith. They thrived on the belief that they were sent from God, who expected them to study and live by his scriptures in the Bible. They believed stories in the Bible could be applied to every aspect of their lives. A big part of the reason they left England to have a new start in America is so that they would have an opportunity to purify the Church of England that they were accustomed to.

In the 1630's and the 1640's, the Puritans traveled to the colonies to detach from their opinion of a convoluted Church of England. They set up towns and started new lives that were all based on their idea of a pure religion. The Puritan's definition of a pure religion did not include many of the ideas of the Church of England. They built the colonies and made a system based upon the idea that God was the most important aspect of life. Puritan ideas and values influenced the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660’s by spreading their beliefs into every facet of daily life. Politically their ideas regarding what was considered sinful behavior and how power was separated among the

While the Puritans are generally perceived as hard working and God fearing people, they were also a highly educated people and their education found its expression in their writings. Their writings reflected their engrained beliefs, especially religion which was integral to their existence and hence early American literature is infused with religiosity.

The New England colonies developed quickly and rapidly through the early 1600s. The colonies’ development was largely influenced by the Puritans, who had helped found most of the colonies in the region after emigrating from GB. The philosophies, ideas, and values of the Puritans greatly shaped the development of the colonies in a number of distinct ways. Politically, the idea of a united, representative government that later became a staple of the US was derived from Puritan ideals. Economically, the ideals of fair pricing and the celebrated “Yankee frugality and thriftiness” originated from the Puritans. Socially, emphasis on church, religion, and community was another lasting influence of the Puritans. Clearly, the values held by the Puritans greatly influenced the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 to 1660.

The Puritans’ greatest lasting impact was on education. They believed that education was important in order to understand the Bible, and therefore stressed the education of all persons. Religious zeal was the main drive for establishing a system of education. As stated in Puritanism in Early American History, “Puritan leaders

The Puritans believed that America was the promise land given to them by God and no one could take it away. They also believed that every person is born sinful, concept of predestination, Jesus died for the chosen only, God's grace is freely given, and perseverance of the saints. The Puritans’ main reason for starting a society was for religious freedom. There religious love shaped the society in more than on way. They used a lot of money that had to make churches, and church-related programs, the surrounding communities would sometimes practice the Puritan religion, and the church and the state were originally inseparable. There whole entire civilization was church centered. Their religion was also family based and they showed extreme piety. Religion was the core thing that shaped societies everywhere especially in the United States, because people were generally traveling there for free land and religious freedom.

Puritans believed God had made a “long promised summons” to them. Creating a society in every way connected to just God was challenging enough for the Puritans but also the need to spread His words to other people. The Puritans’ priorities were centralized on their religion and the teaching of it. This shows their focus in education to them was to teach children religious and moral beliefs. No doubt that the educational life of a Puritan began at home. In keeping with covenant household, the salvation of children and their spiritual being was in the heart of every parent. Parents prayed that their children would become a source of glory. The Puritans started the Old Dilutor Act: to teach children to read and write so they can understand the

Dissent always existed in the New England Colonies; the Puritans rarely all agreed on one point. Differing theological opinions forged a schism between groups and lead to the creation of colonies such as Rhode Island. As they stressed literacy, individuals formed their own impressions of the gospel. Minister Roger Williams, for example, disagreed with the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s Indian relations and lack of religious freedoms. Roger Williams wrote this on the matter, “God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced; which enforced uniformity sooner or later is the greatest occasion of civil war.”

The Puritans came to America in hopes of finding a religious haven. They were trying to separate from the thought to be corrupt Church of England in the seventeenth century. Although the Puritans agreed with some of the that views the Church of England had, most were too liberal for the them and they needed to start a more conservative church. The best place to start was a blank slate, the New World. Developing a new colony was a challenge for the Puritans, but they persevered in their endeavors.

Puritans felt it to be an utmost importance to educate their youth especially in the religious life. Schools were always placed in a centralized location in their villages [Document B]. Also Harvard a renowned university in Massachusetts was originally established to train the youth of the colony to become great ministers to their congregations. They believed that since God had brought them to America it would be an insult to Him if they had not educated their children about Him [Document E]. With this they spent the extra energy teaching their children to read and write so they could especially educate them for the works of the

Puritans believed in religion, work, and education. Because Puritans believed that work was important to be a follower of God they did a lot of work. To keep everyone under control, Puritans set rules , regulations, and laws. Which is a lot like how America has set up laws to keep the citizens in line today. Huguenots were Calvinist French protestants.

The puritans came to america in hopes of finding a religious haven. They were trying to separate from the thought to be corrupt Church of England. Although the Puritans agreed with some of the that views the Church of England had, most were to liberal for the them and they needed to start a more conservative church. What better place to start then a blank slate, the New World. Developing a new colony was a challenge for the Puritans, but they persevered in their endeavors. They came with a goal based on religion and their new colony was created on solely that. Religion affected the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies.

Religion was the catalyst behind Puritan society. The beliefs held by the Puritans are what molded colonial America. More effective, however, was the Great Awakening. This evangelical outpouring greatly altered the lives of the American people by challenging traditional teachings of obeying without question and attracting people from all backgrounds.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is respected as “one of the great masters of American Fiction” (“Hawthorne, Nathaniel” 363). He is an accomplished author who wrote novels as well as children’s literature. However, Hawthorne’s strength is American short story; his “haunting” tales are undeniably responsible for establishing this genre as a “significant art form” (“Nathaniel Hawthorne” Columbia 1). He is known for his “penetrating explorations” of the conflicts within one’s conscience and the consequences that plague his characters, as a result of their disobedience (“Nathaniel Hawthorne” 1). These “dilemmas” of the “human condition” are prominent in his story, “The Birth-Mark” (Tuerk 1). Mosses of an Old Manse, is a compilation of short stories; which