America’s Early Major Religions

Do NowSWBAT compare/contrast major early American

religions

Do Now: How does religion impact the life of you or your family? What about your community? Politics?

Also, answer the following:

-What is religion?

-Define polytheism and monotheism.

-What did Native Americans believe in?

-Who were the Quakers?

-Who were the Puritans?

Yesterday’s Exit TicketDirections: complete this silently for four

minutes. Write the answers underneath the Exit Ticket section of your Do Now sheet.

What is religion?Religion- a set of spiritual beliefs, values, and

practices

Polytheism-the belief in more than one god

Monotheism – the belief in one god

Many cultures came into contact in America

They brought with them their religious beliefs to the ones that were already in place

OlmecOlmec was an ancient civilization in the Gulf of

Mexico area

They worshipped many gods that were spirit animals

Jaguar was considered the most important spirit

Used a shaman (a type of religious leader) to communicate directly with the spirit world

Native AmericansAlthough Native American groups are diverse,

they have some similarities

Many believed in shamans

Had spirits that were inside all things, including land, water, plants, and animals

Saw Mother Earth as a provider

A Great Spirit started the world

African AmericanAfrican Americans were brought over as slaves, and some

kept their original faith that they brought from Africa

Some slaves practiced Islam

Others brought beliefs that were similar to Native Americans in that they believed in spirit worlds

When they were in America, slaves mixed part of their traditional beliefs with those of Christianity from their masters

PuritansA form of Christianity

Wanted to “purify” the Church of England

Very strict; they had a ban on music and celebrations

Intolerant of other beliefs

Thought God called on people to work hard and do good service for others

Churches were the center of their community

QuakersA form of Christianity

Believed in direct communication from God

Saw all people as spiritually equal

Tolerant of all religious views

Pacifists (refused to fight in wars)

Planting the Seeds of Representative GovernmentPuritans had church government at the center

of their lives, which showed they were able to rule on their own

There was the belief that children should be able to read so they could read the Bible

Literacy gave them the ability to read and question authority

Independent PracticeCreate a Venn diagram, comparing the

following religions:

-Puritans

-Quakers

-Olmec beliefs

-Native Americans

-African Americans

When you finish with this, read page 40 on . On a separate piece of paper, answer the questions on the last page.

Exit Ticket 1. What is one

difference between Native American religions and Puritanism?

A. Native American religions focused on one spirit, while Puritanism believed in many gods.

B. Native American religions focused on many spirits, Puritanism believed in many gods.

C. Native American religions are based on faith, while Puritanism was based on facts.

D. Native American religions focused on many spirits, Puritanism believed in one God.

2. Which of these is common among Native American religions and the religions of early American settlers?

A. belief in the Bible

B. belief in animal spirits

C. belief in a "creator”

D. belief in multiple gods

3. Which of these was the reason many colonial New England parents taught their children to read?

A. to read the Bible

B. to learn social studies skills

C. to read newspapers

D. to learn communication skills

4. • natural world/supernatural meaning• animal ceremonialism• medicine men and priestsWhich of these religions is most likely described in the box? A. Native AmericanB. African traditionalismC. QuakersD. Puritans5. Which describes a way

that religion encouraged representative government?

a. Governors in Middle colonies lost their power

b. Quakers believed everyone had special powers

c. Puritans believed in the need for civil government.

d. Catholic priests set up separate missions