Unit 1 – American Dream

Week of September 16-20

Who were the puritans?

• Protestant group that sought to “purify” the Church of England

• Also known as Pilgrims (landed in 1620 at Plymouth Rock)

• Sought freedom to practice religion in their way

• Lived life solely for God; everything in daily life was to serve God

Beliefs

• Man is born sinful (original sin)• God sent his son to save some, not all• Fate is predetermined by God• Those who were chosen acted like saints• Laws = God = Truth• Education is necessary• Keep it simple/plain

Contributions

• Started the idea of religious freedom in U.S.• Founded Harvard University just 16 years after

landing• Started the first communities• Created the first “American” writings

“A bad rap”

• Responsible for the hanging of 19 “witches” and the persecution of many accused

• Fire and Brimstone sermons• Were not able to separate Church and State

because of belief system• Were considered “extremists”

On the back of your sheet…

1) List some similarities and differences the puritans had to Americans today.

2) What opportunities were the puritans seeking when they came to the New World?

3) What is hypocritical about their beliefs and practices?

4) How have the Puritans shaped our ideas about The American Dream

Puritans Pg 17

• Read, skim, and scan the New England Primer, which was given to children in school to teach them their letters.

• What stands out to you in this primary document? What observations can you make?

Puritans Pg 18

• Read “The Trial of Martha Carrier”• A’s will read paragraphs I, III, V• B’s will read paragraphs II, IV, VI• After each chunk, discuss what you read (even

if it’s challenging!)

Revolutionaries Pg 21

Customs• Lived during “The Age of Reason” or “Enlightenment”• Shift from spiritual belief in God to scientific belief in

God• Common sense and logic prevalent• Truth in science and logic• Man is perfectible and good• Success can be achieved through hard work• Education is practical and vocational (learn a specific

skill or job)

Revolutionaries Pg 21

Religion/Beliefs• Believed in Deism– God showed himself in the physical world– Believed God’s gift to man was reason– All people at all times could connect with God

through rationalism– God is benevolent

On the back of your sheet…

1) List some similarities and differences the Revolutionaries (Realists) have to today’s Americans.

2) How were the Realists different from the Puritans?3) How have the Realists help shape our ideas about

The American Dream?

WNB Terms

• Turn to your Table of Contents in your WNB• Add cumulative sentence and periodic sentence to the Grammar section

of your WNB• Periodic Sentence: When the independent clause or main idea comes at

the end of the sentence.– Ex: According to Mrs. Little, Disneyland is the best place for a vacation.

• Cumulative sentence: When the main idea or independent clause begins a sentence.– Ex: Disneyland is the best place for a vacation, according to Mrs. Little

• Go back to your table of contents and add “Malicious” in the Word Connections section– Malicious: Mal - latin meaning ill-will or spite

• Other words: Malign, malfunction, malady

WNB Terms

• In ToC, add “aphorism”– Aphorism: a short, clever saying about life.

Moral Perfection

Follow along as I read “Moral Perfection” from Franklin’s autobiography

Consider: Can one really come to moral perfection? Do you agree with his list?

Quickwrite

Title this in your WNB as “Moral Perfection”

Make a list of all the things YOU need to do/be in order to become “perfect” (even if you already are, then list the things that make you that way )

Then, explain why these traits are important to your character. Should all Americans strive for perfection? Why or why not.

Transcendentalists

• Philosophical movement from 1840-1855• Individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual

level.– To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek

spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition.

Beliefs

• Age of faith + Age of reason – conformity – science = Transcendentalism

• God is found in Nature• People are inherently “good”• Optimistic• Fantasy-like• Individualism leads to “higher truth”• Belief in the “Oversoul”

Ralph Waldo Emerson• Life - 1803-1882• Emerson was the

philosopher and teacher• Ultimate Optimist• Anti-slavery• Wrote “Self-reliance and

“Nature”• Believed in the “Oversoul”

Henry David Thoreau• Life - 1817-1862• Thoreau was the student

and the practitioner • Anti-slavery• Anti-government• Arrested for refusing to

pay a poll tax• Wrote “Walden” and “Civil

Disobedience”

On the back of your paper…

1) How are the Transcendentalists similar to Americans today? How are they different?

2) Of the three groups we have discussed, which would you say is most in line with American customs and ideals today? Which is the least? Explain.

3) How did the Transcendentalists add to the idea of the American Dream?

4) Of the three “movements,” which would you say mostly connects to your core beliefs (this isn’t exact).

Pg 25 Quickwrite

• Title: “Self-Reliance”

Before reading Emerson’s text, write down your thoughts on “self-reliance.” What does it mean to rely on oneself? To what extent should we rely on ourselves and others? Is it better to be your own unique self or to go with the majority in most cases?

Pg 25 “Self-Reliance”

• As you read:– Circle words that you do not understand– Put a (!) by statements/claims with which you

agree– Put a (?) by statements/claims that confuse you– Put a (-) by statements with which you disagree– You may also mark the text in other ways that

work for youYou will be sharing, so make sure you have marks on your page.

Pgs 27-30 Walden

• Turn to pg 27. Number the paragraphs• Chunk the text – Paragraphs 1-4, Paragraphs

5-6, Paragraphs 7-9• As you read Thoreau’s text, you may make any

marks that work for you• You must interact with the text in some way!

(Underline, highlight, question, summarize, etc.)

Homework…

• Due tomorrow: – Double Entry Journal– Selection read from book

• Due Monday: – Walden selection read and marked (You will turn this in)– Find a Primary source from ONE of the periods we have

discussed (THERE ARE MANY!). Bring this to class (10 points).– Grammar and Usage added to WNB (Infinitive phrases and

Antithesis)– Word Connections added to WNB (Analogies and Infinite)