From Puritanism to American Romanticism: The New World: Political and Intellectual Independence

Question 1

Puritanism

Answer 1

• began in England, following the teachings of two Reformation theologians
  > Martin Luther (German)
  > John Calvin (French)

Question 2

Reformation Principles

Answer 2

• the Reformation emphasized two ideas that were important in Puritan thinking
  1. The Bible is the supreme authority, not any man or institution (e.g. pope)
  2. The individual has a direct relationship with God, not through or with a priest or institution
  > Puritans wanted to go further still

Question 3

The Reformation in England

Answer 3

• produced the Church of England/ Anglican Chruch
  > similar to the Roman Catholic Church
  > for man y protestants not enough reformation

Question 4

Mayflower

Answer 4

• the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England (1620)
• they ended up in Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts

Question 5

Core Ideas of Puritanism

Answer 5

• Absolute Sovereignty
• Human Depravity
• Predestination
• Convenant Theology

Question 6

Absolute Sovereignty

Answer 6

• God is totally in control at all times
• Besides sovereignty, the Puritans also used the word providence when discussing this concept

Question 7

Human Depravity

Answer 7

• Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, all humanity is inherently evil and incapable of response to God
• All are tainted by original sin. There is nothing good in a human apart from the saving action of God

Question 8

Predestination

Answer 8

• God in his absolute sovereignty and wisdom determines people’s fate
• the elect have no choice but to be saved; the damned cannot choose their election
• in day-to-day matters, humans are responsible for their choices - but God knows all their choices and outcomes and is able to make all choices work to achieve his purpose (his sovereignty)

Question 9

Convenant Theology

Answer 9

• Puritans = Congregationalists (rejecting the hierarchy of the church of England)
• Entering convenant (German Bund) with each other and choosing a pastor, elected elders & deacons

Question 10

Huswifery; by Edward Taylor (1685)

Question 11

In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceast August, 1665, Beaing a Year and a Half Old; by Anne Bradstreet (1678)

Question 12

On Being Brought from Africa to America; Phillis Wheatley (1768)

Question 13

When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer, b Walt Whitman (1865)

Question 14

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church; by Emily Dickinson (1864)