Early AmericaBeginnings of the Western Culture

The American IdealReligious AutonomyOpportunities in CommerceGold, Gold, and GoldChimerical storiesFountains of YouthNew EdenReligious Purpose

The New World Pre-Exploration

Oral TraditionNo written literatureMore than 500 different languages/cultures before first European settlers arrivedEarly contribution comes fromMythsLegendsTalesPrayersSongs

ReligionWorshippedGodsAnimalsPlantsSacred persons

NatureConnection to higher powerGod is in everythingClose to transcendentalismNo identifiable concept of One God belief

Chippewa SongA loon I thought it wasBut is was My loves Splashing oar.

Cherokee Song

Shake it, shake it, sha-sha, shake it, oh-ohShake it like a polaroid picture

Old Indian Chief

The Founding FathersA Native American View

First ContactProbably about 10 million populating North America when Europeans first arrived.Natives probably came to Americas by way of Bering Sound from SiberiaLikely DID NOT come from IndiaColumbus applied Indian nameThought he was in Asia

Greetings, White ManEuropeans arrived in 16th-17th CenturyFor most part, welcomed by nativesRegarded as a bit of a marvelbeards, clothing, technologyFirst encounters were positive

The Pilgrims and the First ThanksgivingSquanto was an Indian that had been to Europe and learned to speak EnglishCame upon the starving colonists and fed them through winter and taught to farmNot just friendlyhad already encountered white slave traders raiding their villages for hundreds of yearsProviding for those in need was their way

Pilgrims Saw the Indians as heathens, of the DevilSaw Squanto, not as equal, but as instrument of God to help them as chosen peopleReal reason for ThanksgivingIndian tribe signed treaty granting them rights to Plymouth Natives provided a great deal for them

What do I mean?Within 20 yrs. European disease decimated the tribesCame from domesticated animalsSpread through diseased blankets given as giftsSome estimates say almost 90% of pop. Killed by disease By 1623, Pilgrim leaders were giving thanks to God for destroying the heathen savages to make way for a better growth for his people

Difference in World ViewWhites appeared oblivious to spirit of natureThought of land as an obstacle, enemy, commodityViewed with measure of contempt

European ViewForest was so many board feet of timberBeaver colony was so many peltsHerd of Buffalo was so many robes and fursEven Indians were a resourcesouls ripe for religious conversionEuropeans were culturally arrogant

Native Americans Rarely Fought Back with ViolenceOften gave in to settlers, government peacefully. Gave up rights to lands held by their ancestors for centuries.Signed many treaties that were brokenForced to live on reservations of government-appointed lands where hunting was restricted

Indian ConfrontationsWars broke out because of broken promisesLed to Indian Removal Act of 1830Trail of Tears15,000 Cherokees forced to moveAlmost half died making the tripBattle of Wounded Knee was a Massacre

The Trail of Tears

Colonial Period

Who arrived first?US could have easily been Spanish, FrenchThe first to visit continent were not English, Spanish, FrenchProbably Norsemen, Leif Eriksson in 11th Century (400 years before Europeans)Likely off coast of Canada

ContdFirst Europeans to come and stay was ColumbusItalian ExplorerFunded by Spanish rulers

ColonizationEarly attempts a failure1st colony: Roanoke, NC coast; 1585 Became known as lost colony2nd colony: Jamestown, 1607Endured starvation, brutality, misruleMain record written by Capt. John SmithIncurable romantic; likely embellished his stories

Told famous story of PocahontasFavorite daughter of King Powhatan saved Smiths life when he was capturedUnsure as to fact or fiction

17th Century ColonizationNext group were pirates, adventurers, explorersPeople seeking wealth, land, opportunityGives birth to idea of freedom, frontier, chanceContinent starts to look good

The Colonial Period in New EnglandThe Puritans

Who were they?Very educatedLarger percentage of university grads in New England than back home.Interesting because intellectuals often high society; colonial life was far from easy living

Puritans, ContdWhy all this education? To understand and execute Gods will more fullyHighly religiousLeft England because wanted to purify or separate from church of England

You are all dumb as rocks.

ContdWanted to get back to that old time religionNo fancy-pants religious tradition, big hats, shiny robes, etc.Bible was chief means of communication from GodNo room for the mess of religious tradition

You should quit school.

Some Puritan BeliefsLife is a testFailure=eternal damnation in fiery tormentSuccess=heavenly blissWorld was arena of constant battle of good vs. evilSatan was real being; capable of many disguisesOnce saved, always saved . No way!

No one but God himself knew who made the cutPrayed and worked to achieve grace, a gift from Godnot earned; given freelyFelt that earthly success was sign of divine blessing, approvalInterpreted all things and events as symbols w/spiritual meaning

You all eat snot.

Strong work ethicHard days work brought joy to a mans heartBible shunned laziness (2 Thess. 3:10)Gambling, dancing, veracious sexual appetite not condonedworks that lead to sinKnown most famously for part in Salem witch trials

Above AllThe Bible was Gods expressed will and should be adhered to at all costs!!!

DUMB-DUMBS!