Encounters and Encounters and Foundations to 1800Foundations to 1800

Literature from the Native American and Literature from the Native American and European Arrival, Colonial Period & European Arrival, Colonial Period &

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

New Relationships New Relationships

European arrival – began to establish colonies European arrival – began to establish colonies Curiosity developed between English and American Curiosity developed between English and American

IndiansIndians Europeans relied on Indians to teach them survival skills Europeans relied on Indians to teach them survival skills Indians acquired firearms, textiles, and steel tools from the Indians acquired firearms, textiles, and steel tools from the

Europeans Europeans At first, the Indians outnumbered the colonists. At first, the Indians outnumbered the colonists.

1600 – Indian pop. in New England = 70,000-100,0001600 – Indian pop. in New England = 70,000-100,000

DiseaseDisease

Arrival of European settlers brought disease to New Arrival of European settlers brought disease to New England. England. Had a deadly impact on Indians Had a deadly impact on Indians

Indians had crossed the land bridge from Asia to N. America / Indians had crossed the land bridge from Asia to N. America / compared to the diseases that had taken Europe over the centuriescompared to the diseases that had taken Europe over the centuries

Indians had no immunity Indians had no immunity

Smallpox – could kill off an entire villageSmallpox – could kill off an entire village Some Native Americans managed to survive Some Native Americans managed to survive

epidemics.epidemics. However…they were forced to vacate their land However…they were forced to vacate their land

eventually. (Europeans no longer needed them for eventually. (Europeans no longer needed them for survival). survival).

Explorers’ WritingsExplorers’ Writings

First writings of European observations were First writings of European observations were recorded in Spanish and French by explorers of the recorded in Spanish and French by explorers of the 1515thth and 16 and 16thth century. century.

Columbus, Coronado, etc. describe the Americas in Columbus, Coronado, etc. describe the Americas in letters, journals, and books. letters, journals, and books. In hopes of receiving funding for further expeditions, they In hopes of receiving funding for further expeditions, they

emphasize the Americas’ abundant resources, peacefulness emphasize the Americas’ abundant resources, peacefulness and hospitality of inhabitants, and promise of wealth.and hospitality of inhabitants, and promise of wealth.

PuritansPuritans Puritan = broad term, referring to a number of Protestant Puritan = broad term, referring to a number of Protestant

groups that sought to “purify” the Church of England groups that sought to “purify” the Church of England (beginning around 1560). (beginning around 1560). The Church of England had been inseparable from the country’s The Church of England had been inseparable from the country’s

government since the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547). government since the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547). Puritans wished to return to simpler forms of worship and Puritans wished to return to simpler forms of worship and

church organization.church organization. For them, religion was a personal, inner experience.For them, religion was a personal, inner experience.

They did not believe the clergy/government should or could act as an They did not believe the clergy/government should or could act as an intermediary between the individual and God. intermediary between the individual and God.

Many suffered persecution in England. Many suffered persecution in England. Fled England for Holland, but a small group feared that they would Fled England for Holland, but a small group feared that they would

lose their identity as English Protestants. lose their identity as English Protestants. They set sail for the New World, hoping to build a new society They set sail for the New World, hoping to build a new society

patterned after God’s word. patterned after God’s word.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs An uneasy mixture of certainty and doubtAn uneasy mixture of certainty and doubt

Certainty – Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience Certainty – Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience would cause most of humanity to be damned for would cause most of humanity to be damned for all eternity all eternity

Certainty – God had sent his son, Jesus Christ, to Certainty – God had sent his son, Jesus Christ, to earth to save particular peopleearth to save particular people

Doubt – centered around whether a particular Doubt – centered around whether a particular individual was one of the saved (“elect”) or one of individual was one of the saved (“elect”) or one of the damned (“unregenerate”)the damned (“unregenerate”)

Saved or Damned???Saved or Damned??? For a theology that was so clear-cut in its division of the world For a theology that was so clear-cut in its division of the world

between saints and sinners, it was fuzzy when it came to between saints and sinners, it was fuzzy when it came to determining which was which. determining which was which.

1.) You were saved by the grace of God (and you could feel this 1.) You were saved by the grace of God (and you could feel this grace arriving in an intensely emotional fashion). grace arriving in an intensely emotional fashion).

2.) The inner arrival of God’s grace was demonstrated by your 2.) The inner arrival of God’s grace was demonstrated by your outward behavior. outward behavior.

*After receiving God’s grace, you were “reborn” as a member of *After receiving God’s grace, you were “reborn” as a member of the saints, and you behaved like a saint. People hoping to be the saints, and you behaved like a saint. People hoping to be among this group, examined their lives closely for signs of among this group, examined their lives closely for signs of grace and tried to live “good” lives. grace and tried to live “good” lives.

Puritan GovernmentPuritan Government

In the Puritan view a covenant, or contract, existed In the Puritan view a covenant, or contract, existed between God and humanity. between God and humanity. Their covenant with God enjoined them to create a society Their covenant with God enjoined them to create a society

governed by the Bible, in which everyone worked together governed by the Bible, in which everyone worked together for the common good. for the common good.

Puritans believed that people should enter freely into Puritans believed that people should enter freely into agreements concerning their government. agreements concerning their government. However, because the Puritans believed the saintly elect However, because the Puritans believed the saintly elect

should have a strong influence on government, their should have a strong influence on government, their political views tended to be undemocratic. political views tended to be undemocratic.

Little room for compromise. Little room for compromise.

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason End of the 17End of the 17thth century – new ideas century – new ideas AKA “The Enlightenment” AKA “The Enlightenment”

Philosophers / Scientists called themselves rationalists Philosophers / Scientists called themselves rationalists Rationalism = belief that human beings can arrive at truth Rationalism = belief that human beings can arrive at truth

by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuitionthe past, on religious faith, or on intuition

Puritans vs. Rationalists Puritans vs. Rationalists Puritans = saw God as actively and mysteriously involved Puritans = saw God as actively and mysteriously involved

in the workings of the universe in the workings of the universe Rationalists = saw God differently - and believed that Rationalists = saw God differently - and believed that

God’s special gift to humanity is reason (the ability to think God’s special gift to humanity is reason (the ability to think in an ordered, logical manner). Use reason instead of faith. in an ordered, logical manner). Use reason instead of faith.

Age of Reason LiteratureAge of Reason Literature

Rooted in reality Rooted in reality Age of pamphlets (most literature was Age of pamphlets (most literature was

intended to serve a practical or political intended to serve a practical or political purpose)purpose)

Masterpiece of the Age of ReasonMasterpiece of the Age of Reason The Autobiography The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

Used autobiographical narrative (Puritan form), but Used autobiographical narrative (Puritan form), but omitted its religious justification omitted its religious justification

Appears in Appears in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby

Overview: Overview: Contrasting Literary PeriodsContrasting Literary Periods

PuritansPuritans Believed the world was Believed the world was

fallenfallen People were sinners who People were sinners who

could ONLY be could ONLY be redeemed through the redeemed through the grace of God. grace of God.

Rationalists Rationalists Believed that the Believed that the

universe was basically universe was basically goodgood

Doing good for others Doing good for others was the best way to was the best way to worship Godworship God

AssignmentAssignment Writing Assignment: Which statement best fits Writing Assignment: Which statement best fits

our current society? Explain and/or justify your our current society? Explain and/or justify your answer fully in one paragraph. Due tomorrow. answer fully in one paragraph. Due tomorrow. The world is going “down hill” (it has fallen), and The world is going “down hill” (it has fallen), and

people are basically untrustworthy. people are basically untrustworthy. The world is getting better. Social welfare programs The world is getting better. Social welfare programs

(“doing good for others”) are keys to progress.(“doing good for others”) are keys to progress. Reading Assignment: Read fromReading Assignment: Read from A Narrative of A Narrative of

the Captivitythe Captivity on pg. 37-42. Due tomorrow. on pg. 37-42. Due tomorrow.