Colonial Period, 1620-

1750

Focus Questions

• How did religion affect the literature of the Colonial Period?

• What aspects of Puritanism are visible in contemporary society?

Calvinism: The Legacy of John Calvin

(1509-1564)

Calvin…•was a French theologian, pastor, & social reformer

•is considered the founder of the Puritan ethic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg2O0hZ5ChA

Why leave England?

•To purify or separate from the ‘corrupt’ Church of England•To seek religious freedom

Pilgrims in Holland

Arrival• The 1st colony was Roanoke, NC in 1585 – became known as the lost colony. White returns in 1590 – “Croatoan” is marked on a tree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pFaJnvtOWU

• The 2nd colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. • The Pilgrims, founders of Plymouth, Massachusetts, arrived in 1620.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXHXbgRJvc&list=UUBoEhBRE9fnWKU4M1CBV1EQ&index=13&feature=plcp

Jamestown, Jamestown, Virginia 1607Virginia 1607

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpA5O46Ioyk&feature=relmfu

Toon Time

The Colonies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiMCXWMvRJc&feature=related

Puritan Beliefs Total Depravity

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement

Irresistible Grace

Perseverance of the "saints"

Total Depravitydepravity – moral corruption or

degradation

•Through Adam and Eve’s fall, every person is born sinful.

•This is closely linked to original sin.

Unconditional Election

•God saves those he wishes. Only a few are selected for salvation and not based on their own merit.

• This is the concept of predestination.

Limited Atonement

• Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone.

Irresistible Grace

grace – the saving & transfiguring power of God

•God’s grace is freely given; it cannot be earned or denied.

Perseverance of the “Saints”

• Those elected by God have full power to interpret the will of God & to live uprightly.• If anyone rejects grace after feeling

its power in his life, he will be going against the will of God – something impossible in Puritanism.

Summary

Thus, if one is born a slave to sin and spiritually dead--is TOTALLY DEPRAVED or spiritually unable--then salvation must ULTIMATELY be a free or UNCONDITIONAL gift, in no way finally dependent or contingent on one's actions--back to the "U" or UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION.

Puritan Beliefs Strong work ethicStrong work ethic

Hard day’s work brought joy to a man’s Hard day’s work brought joy to a man’s heartheart

Bible shunned laziness: “if anyone Bible shunned laziness: “if anyone does not want to work, let him not eat.”does not want to work, let him not eat.”

Gambling, dancing, etc. not condonedGambling, dancing, etc. not condoned—works that lead to sin—works that lead to sin

Daily Life

The Puritans…• believed that God was working in

their daily lives.  • would “search” their daily lives in

order to find any symbols from God.• were educated and taught their

followers to be rational thinkers.• believed in effective business

practices.• feared that humanistic learning

would draw people away from the church.

Puritans in action…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buri1SXh1eU

Funny Page

Puritan Writers

• Wanted to transform a mysterious God – mysterious because he is separate from the world

• Wanted to make Him more relevant to the universe

William Bradford

• In 1620 William Bradford came with a group of individuals from Europe and formed Plymouth Plantation. 

• In the fall of that year there were 101 men, women, and children present.  By the spring of 1621 there

were only 50 survivors. 

Colonial (Puritan) Literature

Types:• Journals• Histories• Sermons• Poetry

Style:• plain• Religious• Purpose-driven• Some used metaphorical

language

Themes:• Idealism – both religious & political• Practicality• Sin• Isolation• Salvation

Focus Your Reading…

• How did religion affect the literature of the Colonial Period?

• What aspects of Puritanism are visible in contemporary society?