To what extent do the roots of American Exceptionalism lie in Puritan New

England?

New England

● Plymouth 1620 ● Mass Bay 1630 ● Expansion to CT,

RI, NH, 1630s

Religion in Puritan Life ● John Winthrop’s “A Model of

Christian Charity” - City Upon a Hill ● Covenant Theology

→ Covent of Grace - agreement w/ God to create a model society → Social Covenant - agreement with one another to live responsibly and abide by self-gvt

20th c. journalist H.L. Mencken defined Puritanism as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere might be happy.”

BASED ON TEACHINGS OF JOHN CALVIN (CALVINISM) ● rejection of church

hierarchy - personal interpretation

● belief in predestination

● good works proof of having been chosen

The Puritan Work Ethic ● industriousness,

hard work, and thrift are part of a virtuous life

● idleness a sin

Stringent Social Codes

● Good works a sign of being chosen → transferred to community - ie. terrible events were a sign of God’s wrath

● Importance to uphold the social covenant