Early American Literature

European settlers soon landed

in the New World.Captain John Smith wrote an account of the settlement of Jamestown, VA in 1607.The colony struggled a great deal and many died of sickness and starvation within the first year.

Smith’s famous account is the tale of his capture by the Powhatan Indians and fears for his life as his head is laid on two stones.Suddenly, Powhatan’s daughter, Pocahontas, rescues him by throwing herself over Smith, preventing the fatal blow.Pocahontas later married another colonist, John Rolfe.Later scholars assume that most of Smith’s account of his rescue was fictionalized, however. This would be the third account of his dramatic rescue by a young woman.

The Pilgrims also settled in the New World.The Pilgrims also settled in the New World. Led by the desire for religious freedom and a dislike of the Church of England, the Pilgrims came on the Mayflower to begin a new life. William Bradford, in his account, Of Plymouth Plantation, recalls a time of great hardships, starvation, and death when the Pilgrims first landed at Plymouth. With the help of Squanto, a Native American who spoke English, the colony was able to survive the winter, and they continued to work together for 24 years when Bradford wrote the account. A meal was prepared to celebrate the harvest, which later became the first Thanksgiving.

Plymouth PlantationPlymouth Plantation

The First Thanksgiving

Characteristics of New England Settlements

Characteristics of New England Settlements

Over the next 50 years, the Pilgrim settlement was absorbed by the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Low mortality average life expectancy was 70 years of age.

Many extended families.

Average 6 children per family.

Average age at marriage:

Women – 22 years old

Men – 27 years old.

Over the next 50 years, the Pilgrim settlement was absorbed by the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Low mortality average life expectancy was 70 years of age.

Many extended families.

Average 6 children per family.

Average age at marriage:

Women – 22 years old

Men – 27 years old.

Patriarchy and Household Management

Patriarchy and Household Management

Authoritarian male father figures controlled each Authoritarian male father figures controlled each household.household.

Patriarchal ministers and magistrates controlled Patriarchal ministers and magistrates controlled church, congregations, and household patriarchs.church, congregations, and household patriarchs.

““Fire and brimstone” sermons were intended to scare Fire and brimstone” sermons were intended to scare the congregation into submission.the congregation into submission.

Children were strictly controlled and had no freedoms Children were strictly controlled and had no freedoms at all. Games and playtime were not allowed.at all. Games and playtime were not allowed.

Authoritarian male father figures controlled each Authoritarian male father figures controlled each household.household.

Patriarchal ministers and magistrates controlled Patriarchal ministers and magistrates controlled church, congregations, and household patriarchs.church, congregations, and household patriarchs.

““Fire and brimstone” sermons were intended to scare Fire and brimstone” sermons were intended to scare the congregation into submission.the congregation into submission.

Children were strictly controlled and had no freedoms Children were strictly controlled and had no freedoms at all. Games and playtime were not allowed.at all. Games and playtime were not allowed.

Puritan Writing

The Style of Puritan Writing

Puritan Plain Style—short words, direct statements, and references to ordinary, everyday objects.

To transform a mysterious God - mysterious because he is separate from the world.To glorify God—to provide spiritual insight and instruction.Serious self-examination.Fiction and drama were regarded as sinful, though poetry was allowed.

Covenant TheologyCovenant TheologyTrust and honesty were integral parts of the Trust and honesty were integral parts of the Puritan society.Puritan society.

““Covenant of Grace”Covenant of Grace”

Between Puritan communities and God.Between Puritan communities and God.

““Social Covenant”Social Covenant”

Between members of Puritan communities with Between members of Puritan communities with each other.each other.

Required mutual watchfulness.Required mutual watchfulness.

No toleration of deviance or disorder.No toleration of deviance or disorder.

No privacy.No privacy.

Trust and honesty were integral parts of the Trust and honesty were integral parts of the Puritan society.Puritan society.

““Covenant of Grace”Covenant of Grace”

Between Puritan communities and God.Between Puritan communities and God.

““Social Covenant”Social Covenant”

Between members of Puritan communities with Between members of Puritan communities with each other.each other.

Required mutual watchfulness.Required mutual watchfulness.

No toleration of deviance or disorder.No toleration of deviance or disorder.

No privacy.No privacy.

The City on a Hill

A phrase from Puritan John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon “A Model of Christian Charity."Matthew 5:14, from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.Winthrop stated to the future Massachusetts Bay colonists that their new community would be a “city upon a hill”; watched by the world and utopian in nature.Morally, the Puritans believed that their role in society was to be a chosen people called to create a New Jerusalem.Winthrop's sermon gave rise to the widespread belief that the United States is God's country because metaphorically it is a Shining City upon a Hill.This was our first vision of the This was our first vision of the American Dream.American Dream.

Population Comparisons:New England v. the

Chesapeake

Population Comparisons:New England v. the

Chesapeake

The CrucibleThe Crucible

• How do these factors play into the witch hunt?

• Would you want to live in Salem during this time?

• How do these factors play into the witch hunt?

• Would you want to live in Salem during this time?