MASSACHUSETTS BAY) - This Was Also Because Reading The Scripture Was A Necessity

Chang 1
Chang, Yen-Rong B-5
12-6 December 4, 2016
Mrs. Gina Aragon
Thesis: The Puritans made the country great through their quality education, Godly
government, and holy character.
Legacy of Puritans
In the 17th century, England was overtaken and deeply influenced by the Catholic
Churches. This made the suppressed Puritans in there to move to a new place in order
to start their own definition of a perfect society, which later became today’s United States
of America (Deblanco). Through the world’s history, the United States of America is
undeniably one of the most powerful countries in the world, and this is largely contributed
by the influences and Godly roots the Puritans had brought to their land. The Puritans
made the country great through their quality education, true democracy, and Godly
character.
Some of the most prestigious universities in our world today such as Harvard
University and Yale University were founded by the Puritans that fled to America in the
17th century. This alone shows that the Puritans seek great importance in education, and
not just any education, but quality education. They believe that good education is part of
following the way of God, and not doing so results to sinning (EDUCATION IN
MASSACHUSETTS BAY). This was also because reading the Scripture was a necessity
to their lives, thus, teaching the children how to read naturally became a priority, too
(Miletich). This resulted to the high literacy rate of the Puritans compared to the other
regions. During their times, classic novels were very popular among the educated citizens.
In schools, they were taught to read and write in Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. Some of the
subjects include physics, metaphysics, ethics, politics and etc. Although in the beginning,
the rules of the schools were strict as one of the rules says,
"No scholar shall go out of his chamber without coat, gown, or cloak, and everyone
everywhere shall wear modest and sober habit without strange ruffian-like or new fangled
Chang 2
fashions, without all lavish dress or excess apparel whatever. Nor shall any wear gold or
silver or such ornaments, except to whom upon just ground the President shall permit
same; neither shall it be lawful for any to wear long hair, locks, or foretops, nor to use
curling, crisping, parting, or powdering their hair ... "
discipline is undeniably one of the forte of the Puritans. Discipline allowed the holy Godly
character they have acquired from the scriptures to flourish (Seyer).
Another great contribution the Puritans had given to today’s American Society is
their democratic government. Though the ministers of the churches were not allowed to
hold a position in the government, the state and the church definitely worked together to
create a harmonious society. It was required that each town must have a church which
lead to the state having Biblical laws such as the prohibition of being impolite and brutal
to your parents which was taken from Exodus 21:15 and 17 (POLITICS IN NEW
ENGLAND PURITANS & PILGRIMS). John Winthrop, the first governor of the
Massachusetts Bay said,
“We will be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we deal
falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His
present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world.” This
shows just how deeply rooted the Puritans were in terms of Christianity to the point that
they rely their government greatly on Godly exploits.
Lastly, the great American idealogy was shaped by the morals and characters the
Puritans has left to them. Their Godliness allowed their high moral standards to settle in
the settlers. Each of them were required to show their holiness through their everyday
lives for they believed that good works were necessary on a man’s journey to salvation
(Gabriel). Some of their general moral codes include self-discipline, responsibility, hard-
work, and individualism (English). Though generally, their moral conduct is of high
standards, there are also laws that are of an extreme fashion which will later be removed
by the liberalized America. Some of these laws include prohibition of kissing one’s wife in
public or persecution of those who practice witchcraft (Rothbard). Ultimately, the Puritans
left their future generations and descendants a very high standard to follow.
Chang 3
From the smallest gadgets we use daily to the revolutionary ideologies present in
the modern society, many of these are contributed by the Americans, and just as
mentioned above, the Americans definitely will not be what it is today without the Puritans’
contributions and influences. The legacy of the Puritans still stands strong among the
world today.
Works Cited:
Gabriel, Bryan. “Puritan Morals & Standards.” People of Our Everyday Life.
<http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/puritan-morals-standards-4892.html>
Accessed Dec. 5, 2016.
English, Meg. “What Were Typical Puritan Beliefs?” People of Our Everyday Life.
<http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/were-typical-puritan-beliefs-4805.html>
Rothbard, Murray N. “Coercing Morality in Puritan Massachusetts.” MISES DAILY

ARTICLES. <https://mises.org/library/coercing-morality-puritan-massachusetts>
“POLITICS IN NEW ENGLAND PURITANS & PILGRIMS.” Schmoop.

<http://www.shmoop.com/new-england-puritans-pilgrims/politics.html> Accessed
Dec. 5, 2016.
Deblanco, Andrew. “Puritanism.” History. <http://www.history.com/topics/puritanism>

Chang 4
Seyer, Jenna. “Puritan Education: Colonial America.” Prezi. https://prezi.com/tdx9c-dp-

qtx/puritan-education-colonial-america/. Accessed Dec. 5, 2016.
Miletich, Patricia. “Religion and Literacy in Colonial New England.” The Gilder Lehrman
Institute of American History. <https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-
era/religion-and-eighteenth-century-revivalism/resources/religion-and-literacy-
colonial-n> Accessed Dec. 5, 2016.
“EDUCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY.” The Order of the Founders and Patriots of

America. <https://www.founderspatriots.org/articles/mass_education.php>

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Chang 1

Chang, Yen-Rong B-5

12-6 December 4, 2016

Mrs. Gina Aragon

Rothbard, Murray N. “Coercing Morality in Puritan Massachusetts.” MISES DAILY

“POLITICS IN NEW ENGLAND PURITANS & PILGRIMS.” Schmoop.

Deblanco, Andrew. “Puritanism.” History. <http://www.history.com/topics/puritanism>

Seyer, Jenna. “Puritan Education: Colonial America.” Prezi. https://prezi.com/tdx9c-dp-

“EDUCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY.” The Order of the Founders and Patriots of

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