early america beginnings of the western culture. the american ideal religious autonomy religious...
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Early AmericaEarly America
Beginnings of the Western Beginnings of the Western CultureCulture
The American IdealThe American Ideal
Religious AutonomyReligious Autonomy Opportunities in CommerceOpportunities in Commerce Gold, Gold, and GoldGold, Gold, and Gold Chimerical storiesChimerical stories
Fountains of YouthFountains of Youth New “Eden”New “Eden” Religious PurposeReligious Purpose
The New WorldThe New World
Pre-ExplorationPre-Exploration
Oral TraditionOral Tradition
No written literatureNo written literature More than 500 different languages/cultures More than 500 different languages/cultures
before first European settlers arrivedbefore first European settlers arrived Early contribution comes fromEarly contribution comes from
MythsMyths LegendsLegends TalesTales PrayersPrayers SongsSongs
ReligionReligion
WorshippedWorshipped GodsGods AnimalsAnimals PlantsPlants Sacred personsSacred persons
NatureNature
Connection to Connection to higher powerhigher power
God is in God is in everythingeverything
Close to Close to transcendentalismtranscendentalism
No identifiable No identifiable concept of One concept of One God beliefGod belief
Chippewa SongChippewa Song
““A loon I thought it wasA loon I thought it was
But is was But is was
My love’s My love’s
Splashing oar.”Splashing oar.”
Cherokee SongCherokee Song
““Shake it, shake it, sha-sha, shake it, Shake it, shake it, sha-sha, shake it, oh-ohoh-oh
Shake it like a polaroid picture…”Shake it like a polaroid picture…”
Old Indian ChiefOld Indian Chief
The Founding FathersThe Founding FathersA Native American ViewA Native American View
First ContactFirst Contact
Probably about 10 million populating Probably about 10 million populating North America when Europeans first North America when Europeans first arrived.arrived.
Natives probably came to Americas Natives probably came to Americas by way of Bering Sound from Siberiaby way of Bering Sound from Siberia
Likely DID NOT come from IndiaLikely DID NOT come from India Columbus applied “Indian” nameColumbus applied “Indian” name Thought he was in AsiaThought he was in Asia
““Greetings, White Man…”Greetings, White Man…”
Europeans arrived in 16Europeans arrived in 16thth-17-17thth CenturyCentury
For most part, welcomed by nativesFor most part, welcomed by natives Regarded as a bit of a marvel—Regarded as a bit of a marvel—
beards, clothing, technologybeards, clothing, technology First encounters were positive…First encounters were positive…
The Pilgrims and the First The Pilgrims and the First ThanksgivingThanksgiving
Squanto was an Indian that had been to Squanto was an Indian that had been to Europe and learned to speak EnglishEurope and learned to speak English
Came upon the starving colonists and fed Came upon the starving colonists and fed them through winter and taught to farmthem through winter and taught to farm
Not just “friendly”—had already Not just “friendly”—had already encountered white slave traders raiding encountered white slave traders raiding their villages for hundreds of yearstheir villages for hundreds of years
Providing for those in need was their Providing for those in need was their “way”“way”
Pilgrims Pilgrims
Saw the Indians as heathens, of the Saw the Indians as heathens, of the DevilDevil
Saw Squanto, not as equal, but as Saw Squanto, not as equal, but as instrument of God to help them as instrument of God to help them as chosen peoplechosen people
Real reason for Thanksgiving—Indian Real reason for Thanksgiving—Indian tribe signed treaty granting them rights tribe signed treaty granting them rights to Plymouth to Plymouth
Natives provided a great deal for them…Natives provided a great deal for them…
What do I mean?What do I mean?
Within 20 yrs. European disease decimated Within 20 yrs. European disease decimated the tribesthe tribes
Came from domesticated animalsCame from domesticated animals Spread through diseased blankets given as Spread through diseased blankets given as
giftsgifts Some estimates say almost 90% of pop. Some estimates say almost 90% of pop.
Killed by disease Killed by disease By 1623, Pilgrim leaders were giving thanks By 1623, Pilgrim leaders were giving thanks
to God for destroying the heathen savages to to God for destroying the heathen savages to make way for a better growth for his peoplemake way for a better growth for his people
Difference in World ViewDifference in World View
Whites appeared oblivious to spirit of Whites appeared oblivious to spirit of naturenature
Thought of land as an obstacle, Thought of land as an obstacle, enemy, commodityenemy, commodity
Viewed with measure of contemptViewed with measure of contempt
European ViewEuropean View
Forest was so many board feet of Forest was so many board feet of timbertimber
Beaver colony was so many peltsBeaver colony was so many pelts Herd of Buffalo was so many robes Herd of Buffalo was so many robes
and fursand furs Even Indians were a resource—souls Even Indians were a resource—souls
ripe for religious conversionripe for religious conversion Europeans were culturally arrogantEuropeans were culturally arrogant
Native Americans Rarely Native Americans Rarely “Fought Back” with Violence“Fought Back” with Violence
Often gave in to settlers, government Often gave in to settlers, government peacefully. peacefully.
Gave up rights to lands held by their Gave up rights to lands held by their ancestors for centuries.ancestors for centuries.
Signed many treaties that were Signed many treaties that were brokenbroken
Forced to live on reservations of Forced to live on reservations of government-appointed lands where government-appointed lands where hunting was restrictedhunting was restricted
Indian ConfrontationsIndian Confrontations
Wars broke out because of broken Wars broke out because of broken promisespromises
Led to Indian Removal Act of 1830Led to Indian Removal Act of 1830 Trail of TearsTrail of Tears 15,000 Cherokees forced to move15,000 Cherokees forced to move Almost half died making the tripAlmost half died making the trip Battle of Wounded Knee was a MassacreBattle of Wounded Knee was a Massacre
The Trail of TearsThe Trail of Tears
Colonial PeriodColonial Period
Who arrived first?Who arrived first?
US could have easily been Spanish, US could have easily been Spanish, FrenchFrench
The first to visit continent were not The first to visit continent were not English, Spanish, FrenchEnglish, Spanish, French
Probably Norsemen, Leif Eriksson in Probably Norsemen, Leif Eriksson in 1111thth Century (400 years before Century (400 years before Europeans)Europeans)
Likely off coast of CanadaLikely off coast of Canada
Cont’dCont’d
First Europeans to come and stay First Europeans to come and stay was Columbuswas Columbus Italian ExplorerItalian Explorer Funded by Spanish rulersFunded by Spanish rulers
ColonizationColonization
Early attempts a failureEarly attempts a failure 11stst colony: Roanoke, NC colony: Roanoke, NC
coast; 1585 coast; 1585 Became known as “lost Became known as “lost
colony”colony” 22ndnd colony: Jamestown, colony: Jamestown,
16071607 Endured starvation, Endured starvation,
brutality, misrulebrutality, misrule Main record written by Main record written by
Capt. John SmithCapt. John Smith ““Incurable romantic”; likely Incurable romantic”; likely
embellished his storiesembellished his stories
Told famous story of Told famous story of PocahontasPocahontas
Favorite daughter of King Favorite daughter of King Powhatan saved Smith’s Powhatan saved Smith’s life when he was capturedlife when he was captured
Unsure as to fact or fictionUnsure as to fact or fiction
1717thth Century Colonization Century Colonization
Next group were pirates, Next group were pirates, adventurers, explorersadventurers, explorers
People seeking wealth, land, People seeking wealth, land, opportunityopportunity
Gives birth to idea of freedom, Gives birth to idea of freedom, frontier, chancefrontier, chance
Continent starts to look goodContinent starts to look good
The Colonial Period in New The Colonial Period in New EnglandEngland
The PuritansThe Puritans
Who were they?Who were they?
Very educatedVery educated Larger percentage of university Larger percentage of university
grads in New England than back grads in New England than back home.home.
Interesting because intellectuals Interesting because intellectuals often high society; colonial life was often high society; colonial life was far from easy livingfar from easy living
Puritans, Cont’dPuritans, Cont’d
Why all this education? Why all this education? To understand and execute God’s will To understand and execute God’s will
more fullymore fully Highly religiousHighly religious Left England because wanted to “purify” Left England because wanted to “purify”
or “separate” from church of Englandor “separate” from church of England
You are all dumb as rocks.You are all dumb as rocks.
Cont’dCont’d
Wanted to get back to “that old time Wanted to get back to “that old time religion”religion” No fancy-pants religious tradition, big No fancy-pants religious tradition, big
hats, shiny robes, etc.hats, shiny robes, etc. Bible was chief means of communication Bible was chief means of communication
from Godfrom God No room for the “mess of religious No room for the “mess of religious
tradition”tradition”
You should quit school.You should quit school.
Some Puritan BeliefsSome Puritan Beliefs
Life is a testLife is a test Failure=eternal damnation in fiery tormentFailure=eternal damnation in fiery torment Success=heavenly blissSuccess=heavenly bliss World was arena of constant battle of good World was arena of constant battle of good
vs. evilvs. evil Satan was real being; capable of many Satan was real being; capable of many
disguisesdisguises ““Once saved, always saved” . No way! Once saved, always saved” . No way!
No one but God himself knew who No one but God himself knew who “made the cut”“made the cut”
Prayed and worked to achieve Prayed and worked to achieve “grace”, a gift from God—not earned; “grace”, a gift from God—not earned; given freelygiven freely
Felt that earthly success was sign of Felt that earthly success was sign of divine blessing, approvaldivine blessing, approval
Interpreted all things and events as Interpreted all things and events as symbols w/spiritual meaningsymbols w/spiritual meaning
You all eat snot.You all eat snot.
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 (2 Thess. 3:10)Bible shunned laziness (2 Thess. 3:10) Gambling, dancing, veracious sexual Gambling, dancing, veracious sexual
appetite not condoned—works that lead to appetite not condoned—works that lead to sinsin
Known most famously for part in Salem Known most famously for part in Salem witch trialswitch trials
Above AllAbove All
The Bible was God’s expressed will The Bible was God’s expressed will and should be adhered to at all and should be adhered to at all costs!!!costs!!!
DUMB-DUMBS!DUMB-DUMBS!