Documentation of history is a reflection of the values and morals of the time, compared and contrasted with the issues of the past, by people closely connected to those values and morals. History has been spoken and written down for millennia by both ordinary and extraordinary people. American history is merely an extension of that tradition, with three defined periods of documentation: the Puritans, in the sixteenth century, a closely knit religious sect; the patricians, men educated using what the Puritans would consider pagan texts, defying the Church’s hold upon them; and the professionals, people trained and educated for the process of researching and teaching about history, who used all manner of documents for their scholarly analysis in a way to affect change. The Puritans fled to America to establish their own community, entrusting their clergymen and political leaders, true men of God, with the recording of their history. Their belief that God’s will drove their lives forward – His path for them, His Chosen people – dominated their lives, and as such the books and papers passed down to us for perusal are filled with religious and moral teachings. …show more content…
To the minds of the patrician historians, influenced by the Enlightenment, people determined their own fates by use of reason and logic. The historians entrusted this time with this burgeoning knowledge were of the gentleman class: merchants, landowners, lawyers, and doctors, all of whom were finely educated and possessed resources to encourage thought and debate, all hailing from the thirteen original colonies. The patrician historians were infused with a fevered degree of nationalism after the victorious Revolutionary War, desiring to write their history as a story of
They also were firm believers in spreading the gospel of God. They preached the word of God so hard that they began to shake, hints the name
The history that we learn today is due to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. This book is unique compared to other books because it's chronically different and the way that the author supports the
Historian, Gordon S. Wood, takes the readers back to the the time of our founding fathers in Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different. His book enables us to critique our present political leaders based off the never forgotten achievements of the aristocrats who shaped an egalitarian society and politics. Wood figuratively paints eight portraits of self-made aristocrats who transformed a revolution into a prosperous country. He illuminates their lives with such interest and familiarity, one would think Wood was an observer among them. From this book, readers will understand how trials, wars, and critics all allowed men such as Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and Thomas Paine to create the identity of America that we
They valued congregation or community, the lord's day, and God in their mind and soul and though all
They elected a man named William Bradford to be their leader for the rest of his life. They talk about god in their trip. “So they committed themselves to the will of god and resolved to proceed.” ( William Bradford 79). That means that they relied on god the whole trip.
Malleable Puritan thought laid the foundation for arguably the greatest civilization in history, The United States of America. Authors Perry Miller and Edmund Morgan chronicle Puritan history and describe how the Puritans left the Old World and began to transform the New World, and themselves, based off of experiences in their respective writings. Miller and Morgan use the word “experience” very differently when describing our Puritan forefathers, but they draw upon similar conclusions. Puritan thought was constantly transforming through physical, intellectual, and spiritual experiences.
They believed in religion which was more so of an inner light. They believed that, that light –came from Christ within. However, Grimke acted on this religious views an installed them into her life whether her family agreed or not. In an excerpt of Walking by faith
The American Revolution was the world-changing birth of a nation that was founded on the strong belief of natural rights and freedom through independence. These beliefs, however, were not what the initial supporters of what would become the revolution intended. Instead, these people, known as the gentry, had initially sought to preserve their authority to rule, a right they believed they already had. Although, after employing the middle sort to help them and slowly giving them more power, new radical ideas had emerged. Suddenly, the gentry’s wish of restoring their authoritative power changed into a nationwide fight for natural rights and independence.
For them, hell and the devil were very real realities. It did not help that Gd was quick to punish his creations, regardless of whether they were dead or alive. Religion had three crucial tasks that shaped the lives of the people: providence , salvation and community. Providence was God’s will on Earth; to the people living in this time period, everything was God’s will. In a society where death was common, but the causes not, God was the one who caused it.
The ideas constructed by the Puritans were not simply a principal starting point for American culture because they were the first in the country, but because they offered distinct ways of thinking that are still deep-seated in our culture today. Although many of the ideas of Puritans have evolved or vanished over time, it is important to give credit to the Puritan writers and thinkers such as John Winthrop and John Cotton who offered ideas that were new at the time and that stayed with the American consciousness—culturally, socially, and politically. “John Winthrop's legacy can be seen primarily in the fields of government, commerce, and religion. It was religion that would most impact John's life; his religion would ultimately impact the
History is a novel idea that has been a continuous idea throughout our time in class. We have gone over what history means to us, the students; as well as the authors and filmmakers we have studied. For me, before this class, History merely meant what we
Nando was one of the few that trusted in God to get them out of the Andes. Although, he did not have faith in God the whole time. He did most of the time. “If there is a God, and if He wanted my attention, He certainly has it now.” (Nando, 85).
Although they went through hard times they believed in was all apart of God’s greater plan and never lost
The arrival of the first Europeans in the Americas is dramatically captured through the many writers who attempted to communicate what they saw, experienced and felt. What is more, the very purposes of their treacherous travel and colonization are clearly seen in their writings; whether it is poetry, history or sermons. Of the many literary pieces available today, William Bradford and John Winthrop’s writings, even though vary because the first is a historical account and the second is a sermon, stand out as presenting a clear trust in God, the rules that would govern them and the reason they have arrived in the Americas. First of all, William Bradford provides an in-depth look into the first moment when the Puritans arrived in the Americas. In fact, he chronicles the hardships they face on their way to Plymouth, yet he includes God’s provision every step of the way.
American History Education Reforms The definition as well as the specific parts of accurate American history is a highly debated topic- especially in regards to educating children on American history. In “Let’s tell the Story of All America’s Cultures” by Yuh Ji-Yeon gives her point of view on the controversial topic of the success of American history education. As the author is a Korean immigrant she has a special connection to this topic, and is writing this article to giver her opinion in the debate of reforming education in America. Ji-Yeon successfully persuades the audience that American history education in the United States is discriminatory by using her personal experiences and emotions as she informs the audience of a possible solution