Early American WritingJIGSAW NOTES

Instructions1. Get together with your small group.

2. Read through the information you received.

3. Creatively display the top five important pieces of information on a sheet of poster paper.

4. Be prepared to share with the class/provide notes for the class.

Charades1. With your partner, figure out a way to perform the idea from early American literature.

2. Present your performance to the class.

3. The first pair to guess correctly will win Dojo points for their team!

Puritanism in American

Leaving for America Wanted to “purify” the Church of England

Wanted to have a direct connection with God

Suffered for their beliefs in England

Left for Holland, but didn’t want to lose English identity

Came to America with William Bradford in 1620.

Puritan Beliefs About Sin Believed all were damned for eternity by original sin

Believed Jesus sent to save particular people

Believed in PREDESTINATION: a person would go to either Heaven or Hell. Destination determined by birth.

The saved called “the elect” and the damned called “the unregenerate”

Puritan Government Based government on a contract they believed they had with God.

Made decision of how to govern all together

Saintly “elect” had most influence on the government

Led the way for American democratic system

The Bible in America Saw connections of events in the Bible to events in their lives Each Puritan learned to read to be able to read the Bible for himself Took the Bible literally

RationalismTHE AGE OF TINKERERS

Enlightenment Began In Europe with philosophers and scientists

Believed a person could arrive at truth through reason, rather than the authority of the past or religious faith

Saw God as a clockmaker—created the earth and then let it run on its own

Major BeliefsTruth can be found through science

God created the universe but doesn’t interfere in its workings

The world operates through God’s rules

We can discover God’s rules by using reason

Everyone has the ability to improve his own life

People began tinkering to discover new things

DEISM

Rationalist View of God Not likely that God would only reveal himself with a view people.

God made it possible for all people at all times to discover natural laws through the reason God gave them.

Avoided supporting specific religious groups

Desire to improve people’s lives

Forms of Worship Stressed humanity’s goodness

Believed everyone can become perfect through the use of reason God’s main goal was the happiness of all his creatures

Best way to worship: do good for others

Progress

Human history is marked by progress to a more perfect

existence

SELF-MADE MAN

What is a self-made man? Someone who works their way from poverty to prosperity Rags-to-riches story Requires self education Path to moral perfection

Required Traits Ever-growing curiosity

Interest in learning Physical strength Strength of mind

Desire for moral perfection

Examples BEN FRANKLIN FREDERICK DOUGLASS

THOMAS EDISON ABRAHAM LINCOLN

RAY KROC SAM WALTON

WALT DISNEY SEAN COMBS

HENRY FORD

EARLY AMERICAN GENRES

DIARIES Give religious meaning to ordinary eventsPracticalWay to negotiate political change

Dated, timely records of everyday incidents

May be business like or emotional

More public than current idea of a diary

Help with self-improvement Have universal appeal

Newspapers and Almanacs Nonfiction

Practical information

Annual and weekly publications

Popular because now the majority of the population could read

Speeches Vehicle of change and transition

Emotionally powerful

Persuade an audience

Instruct an audience