Planters and Puritans essays

Planters and Puritans essays Puritans and Planters are the two original groups that founded this country. This paper will examine the similarities and differences between them and todays society. The Puritan society was highly concerned with education. Like today, it was a cornerstone of their society. They believed that everyone, even women, should be able to read and write. One example of this is the literature written by Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson. Another way in which Americans are similar to the Puritans is their self-righteous attitude. Americans have a habit of thinking they are superior to everyone else, which could have stemmed from the Puritan attitude. The reason the Puritans came to America was to avoid religious persecution. While they may not have tolerated other religions like we do today, they did abide other Christian denominations. The Planters, on the other hand, were more concerned with making money and being successful, what some people might call the American dream. John Smiths The New World is a prime example of this desire for wealth. Smith makes extreme exaggerations and simply boldfaced lies to lure more people to the new world in order to make more money. Early Planters were also lazy according to A History of the Dividing Line by William Byrd. Many modern Americans share this attribute, expecting things to be handed to them. Their attitude about religion is also similar to ours, which is, while religion is important it should not be all consuming. Once again religion is a factor. The Puritans believed that God was responsible for anything and everything that took place as illustrated in William Bradfords Of Plymouth Plantation. On the voyage from England, God kills the sailor, fixes the ship, and saves the man from drowning. Today, most Americans, if they believe in God at all, believe that He does not determine every little detail of everyday life. Puritans had a strong family structure that wh ...