Modern American Society In The 1600s
Harambe. Cecil. Kaepernick. It seems after every controversial event, an angry mob of pitchfork-wielding critics clambers over one another to spout their opinions to anyone willing to listen. Despite this, many like to think that as a society today, much progress has been made since times of slavery and discrimination. Upon closer examination, however, modern American society has not changed from the rigid and judgmental ways of the Puritans in the 1600s.
Colonizing the New World in the 1600s, the Puritan society was harsh, unyielding, and hypercritical. They believed that people are born into sin and those not redeemed through faith are condemned to hell. Puritans were known for punishing and driving out non believers and transgressors. Punishments ranged
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For example, it can be argued that punishments are no longer blown out of proportion to the severity of the crime committed. No longer are children or workers whipped for disobedience or laziness, as is portrayed in Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. When considered closely however, it is clear that American society still doles out unfitting and unjust punishments - though now not through the legal system. Similar to the ostracization of adulterers, heretics and transgressors in the Puritan society, the members of the affair website Ashley Madison fell under barrages of threats and ridicule after the website was hacked and its members’ information was released. The tragic story of Justine Sacco, who was fired from her job and ridiculed by the public after posting a racist joke online, demonstrates the disparity between crime and resulting punishment. Similar to Puritan punishments, public ignominy as a consequence for failings of the character is too severe a punishment. These events demonstrate that, as a modern society, America has still not evolved from appointing vigilante-like retribution upon those who seem worthy of such
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476 Words | 2 PagesSomeone who lied or insulted another person had to pay a considerable fine. A man in Virginia vehemently ridiculed the governor. He had his tongue pierced, and then the authorities banished him from the neighborhood. The hostile colonists aimed for criminal punishments to mortify the offenders. Instead of placing convicts in jail, they would often be whipped publicly or have the name of the offense burned onto one of their hands.
New England Dbq
590 Words | 3 PagesAbout a century later, during the 1630’s, the Puritans decided that the best way to reform was to emigrate away from the Church of England. Author David Hall claims “excitement ran high that a new kind of society was being created, a community without “the unclean conversation of the wicked” as Thomas Weld reported to his former parishioners in England.” They called this society “New England” and the puritans were one of the many religious movements able to escape to it, but their historical timing was in no way unique. The Puritans eventually realized that they’re next step was developing their society, shaping its system to fit their beliefs.
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178 Words | 1 PagesAs a means to make sure that the correct people get the credit and recognition for changing history, one must fully recognize the importance of who freed the slaves. Thus, correcting historical records to match the evidence of who ultimately, freed the slaves. Historian Ira Berlin stated, “Such interest in a document whose faded words cannot be easily seen, let alone deciphered. . . raises important questions about the role of history in the way Americans think about their racial past and present.” If historical records are fixed to give much due recognition it will change how Americans think about and view the past.
Social Changes In The Early 1800s
322 Words | 2 PagesIn the early 1800s lives were drastically changed after the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution resulted in growth to the economy and society. This adjustment was both good and bad. Mostly for the better though. The North and South both grew used to this transition.
How Did Puritans Influence The Development Of The New England Colonies Dbq
849 Words | 4 Pages161076 10학년 양윤석 After a hundred years after Columbus’s momentous landfall, figure of the New world had already been conspicuously transformed. However, north of Mexico, America in 1600 remained largely unexplored and effectively unclaimed by Europeans. England was one of the country which enlarged its power on America during 1600s. Waves of Puritan immigrants arrived in the region of New England, and they started to form a new atmosphere. However, the biggest difference with the Chesapeake region’s inhabitants was that the Puritans didn’t aim primarily for economic benefit or trade.
How Did The Puritans Influence The New England Colonies
244 Words | 1 PagesThe Puritans in the 1600s had a very important influence in the development of the New England colonies through the 1660s their ideas, values; political, economic and social development would have a lasting effect on the region. The values of the Puritans were greatly rooted in the idea that man was evil and that God alone would save us. By creating this town upon the hill God will reward them for their efforts for trying to reform the Anglican Church. Politically the Puritans were a semi-theocracy that would only allow those who were part of the church to vote. Economically they brought a lasting effect based on their hard work ethic.
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750 Words | 3 PagesName Professor Course Date Book Review: Everyday Life in Early America The book ‘Everyday Life in Early America’ by David Hawke provides a comprehensive account of the history of early settlers in America. It maintains that the geographic concept including the physical environment is a chief factor that influences the behavior of individuals. The author assumes that early settlers came to America in the hope of taking forward their customs and traditions while starting afresh in a foreign land.
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1931 Words | 8 PagesThe Puritan society in The Crucible The Puritans were English Reformed Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to "purify" the Church of England from its "Catholic" practices. They were also historically known to be hyper-religious and judgmental, believing themselves to be the Hebraic God’s chosen people and abiding by strict social rules. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an example of this, especially when the situation was taken to extremities through the Salem witchcrafts. Because of their strongly biased religious government being easily swayed by the lies from some other people, the sole individual was left with no chance of defending themselves from accusations when the public had already decided their fate. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Puritan theology derived in New England after an exodus from England during the English Protestant Reformation.
Analysis Of Jeff Jacoby's Bring Back Flogging
502 Words | 3 PagesIn Jeff Jacoby’s “Bring Back Flogging,” he compares the punishments for crimes in the 17th Century to the punishments for crimes in the present. Jacoby suggests in his essay that “the Puritans were more enlightened than we think, at least on the subject of punishment. Their sanctions were humiliating and painful, but quick and cheap.” Jacoby makes a good argument to bring back an old punishment policy. He points out that “a humiliating and painful paddling can be applied to the rear end of a crook for a lot less than $30,000 (per year).”
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920 Words | 4 PagesEssentially, Puritans are expected to follow a strict set of religious and moral guidelines from which their actions and morality are derived. According to Hall’s A Reforming People, these moral expectations first introduced by the pilgrims were the driving force behind the power that the Puritan ministry had over society: “Ministers and laypeople looked first to congregations as the place where love, mutuality, and righteousness would flourish, and second to civil society. …Alongside love, mutuality, and righteousness they placed another set of values summed up in the word “equity.” Employed in a broad array of contexts, the concept of equity conveyed the colonists’ hopes for justice and fairness in their social world.”
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