Puritan Culture_puritanculture

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语言文化班

杨建兰

郑柏青

A Comparative Approach to Western Culture of 17th-18th Century:

Europe and America

Abstract: American culture and European culture share one origin but diversified on different

lands.A review on them two followed by comparing the two will help the readers to understand better of the two.Key words: American culture；European culture；Individualism;Enlightment

By “Western Culture”, we usually mean the culture of Europe and the culture that originated from Europe but might have developed into quite a different one, for example American culture.This paper is to review European culture and American culture in 17th-18th century separately and then comparing the two.Before coming to the given topic, what happened in the 16th century in Europe goes as a preface.Europe of the 16th century was characterized by a radical religious reformation started by Martin Luther in Germany and followed by Calvin in France.The so-called Protestantism spread all over the continent and resulted in the Church of England.For the whole century, religious fights, mixed with political and social revolutions, led to great social changes to the countries involved.British countries(England and Scotland)felt the changes more than other countries: Puritan revolution and “Glorious Revolution” were well an very important part of the history of the country and even the world.Some puritans in England who escaped the religious suppreion of the Church of England sailed to America and settled down in New England, with their firm religious faith.They were to develop the new world into a completely different country.The paper is to inspect the two cultures of the same origin, i.e.European origin.We fell well safe to say that the two cultures share more than they differ from each other.But we would feel safer if we say they differ from each other as much as they share with each other.However, the following part first gives an overall view towards the two respectively, and then discu shortly on some comparable or contrastive dimensions.American culture

American culture is usually referred to as WASP(White Anglo-Saxon Protestant).Protestants here means the same as Puritans.Puritanism has been an indispensible ingredients in American people’s growth as a nation(Merriam 3).The early colonies were started by Puritans and later more Puritans followed.In 1775 when the Independence War broke out, at least 75% of the population of the thirteen colonies grew up in Puritan families(Reichley 53).Such overwhelming puritan root or tradition surely had a prolonged and lasting impact on American society and culture。American values are duplications of the religious faiths held by the early Puritans in New England.Such values have far transcended religious realm and stolen their way into all walks of life: political, educational, economical, social, ideological, individual, etc.American culture is characterized by mainly the Individualism, Democracy and the values of life and the world, among others such as freedom, equality, being practical.Individualism found the support from the Bible.All the people are equal, being equally sinful before the God.Puritans defied and denied the authority of the Catholic Pope, removing the shield between the God and the believers.The believers did not need to go to church, rely on churchmen and follow the Catholic rituals.They believed in salvation or forgivene or justification through faiths in Christ, as held by religious revolutionist Martin Luther.Such belief practically streed the function of individuals as active agents in the course of salvation.The Puritan believers, as they did in New England, established churches, chose ministers, administrated the religious affairs, all on their own(Yu 3).They demolished the hierarchy of Catholic churches.All the believers enjoyed equality.Calvinism awakened the Puritans to the strong awarene of oneself as an individual instead of a subordinated part of a religious group or a society.One had the right to decide on his own matters without being interfered by external force;one could be independent of any other bodies or organization.Individuals were liberated from the religious manacle.Individualism became an inherited part of American values.Closely related to Individualism is equal rights and people’s strong sense of freedom.Throughout the 17th and18th century, American people experienced the rapid economic growth and more importantly won the Independence War.These ideas accompanied the American people all and helped them to gain their goals.The ideas were deposited in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.If Individualism is guaranteeing individual rights and existence, Democracy is guarding the people or a country as a whole.Americans have been most proud of their Democracy.American democracy started from the very moment the Puritans signed the May Flower Compact, the first document specifying an autonomous government.The first governor general was elected following the Compact.This set up a very good example for other colonies to follow.The Puritan traditions got rooted in American politics ever since.Religious hierarchy and privileges were not permitted in their new churches.This Puritan equality was transplanted to American government principles.When the country gained independence from the monarchical country, the new government iued the Declaration of Independence.It was referred as the first declaration of human rights by Marx.French Revolution took it as the blueprint for the Declaration of Human Rights.Republic System was naturally taken and the principle of checks and balances was adopted, guaranteeing democracy of the government.“A government of the people, for the people and by the people” came into being and became an ideal for other nations.People’s freedom of religion, speech, publication and aociation is freedom of any individuals and limit for any individuals’ freedom.In a government away from religion, religious bias stopped its interference with and control over politics.Politics, in the other way around, would not suppre the religious diidents, and became something people could make choice out of their own will, regardle of their political stand.Only in this way, could religious tolerance and freedom of faiths be guaranteed.It cannot be denied that the attraction of American democracy lies partly in its religious tolerance.Or we can say religious tolerance helped America become the present one.Values of life and world were much influenced by Puritan beliefs too.The early Puritans survived freezing winter, starvation, lack of shelters, threat of the wild, and they developed the country into a rich and prosperous one as we are enjoying today.Throughout 17th and 18th century, America developed from the coastal to inner land, from north to south, from agriculture to

trade, from being governed to governing.The Puritans attitudes towards life and work contributed more than other factors.Pioneering spirit, practical approach, diligence, thrift, devotion to work, all these can find root in Puritanism.Puritans’ devotion to work and diligence was aociated with Calvin’s predestination.Human beings were doomed to be sinful.But Human beings could get grace from the God and be saved through secular achievements(Chai 225).Work or jobs in the secular world were tools by which one can serve the God.Puritans regarded work as calling from the God.Puritans believed diligent people would be chosen by the God.Such proverbs as “God helps those who help themselves”, “A penny saved is a penny earned”, spread wide.The belief had long become a major part of “American Dream”.To fulfill such callings, puritans worked hard, cultivated the wild land, explored the front areas, led thrifty life, took adventures, and pursued material wealth.That’s why America ever grew fast since the early settlement.Webber pointed out that the Puritans’ respect for labor greatly motivated people’s endle desire for creating wealth, which was the stimulus for the spirit of capitalism

(32).“ England had a Puritan Revolution without creating a Puritan society, America created a Puritan society without enduring a Puritan revolution(James Bryce)”.American Puritans realized their Puritan beliefs on a free land while English Puritans had to fight against these all: Catholic Church, Anglican Church, the king/queen and the aristocrats.A religion may last long when it penetrated into secular aspects of human life, as has been proved by American Puritanism.European Culture

Europe in early 17th century had just experienced the Renaiance, but most of European countries were under the reign of Monarchy.The kings in these countries believed that they were the country and that “the divine right of kings” could not be challenged.Catholic Church was still a reality.Protestants suffered revengeful persecution.In England, “Glorious Revolution” resulted in which was a great progre from the original absolute monarchy.Constitutional Monarchy in England was held as a model for other countries.Thanks to the political system, English people enjoyed more democracy and liberty.Consequently, John Loche finished Two Treatises on Government 1690;Newton published Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy in 1687;Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations in 1776.These published books, among others, were signs of a new ideological revolution: Enlightment, as later called.Ideologically, 18th century was characterized by Enlightment that led to French Revolution.During the long period, the ideological realm was flooded with new thoughts and theories.It has been regarded as the second liberation of ideology.It involved almost every field: natural science, philosophy, ethics, politics, economics, history, literature, education, art, music, architecture, etc.It started from England and Scotland, but reached its prosperity in France.It borrowed some from the “Glorious Revolution”, lent much to the French Revolution and America’s Independence War.Rationalism was the distinct factor of Enlightment.With Rationalism, these great thinkers such as Voltaire and Roueau uncovered the mysterious “coat” of the religion and monarchy, denying the divine rights of kings, then undermined the ground for the king’s privileges.People were awakened to the poibility of demolishment of the monarchy and to the neceity of a republic government.Such enlightment was highly due to the progrees and discoveries in natural science, and also to rising power of the bourgeoisie.Political requirements were clearly made.In fighting against religion and monarchy, the thinkers or writers all pointed to a more ideal political government: republic.But they did not stop here.Instead, they sketched the blueprint for the future government and system.Voltaire examined the Constitutional Monarchy of England, and set it as an example for other countries to follow.Montesquieu proposed “checks and balances”.Roueau publicized his “Social Contract Theory” and “People's Sovereignty Theory”，attacking the divine rights of kings in nature.Voltaire aimed his criticism at the churches that enjoyed the legal and economic privileges.Montesquieu opposed churches as the first cla of feudalism by claiming “Natural rights”.The core of the thoughts was freedom, democracy and equality.“ Men are born equal” was a famous saying.These political claims mentioned above prepared the theoretical and ideological ground for the coming bourgeoisie revolution both in the Europe and America.When America succefully won the Independence War, there were quite a group of people who were much influenced by the Enlightment theories, namely, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine.There are too many people who should be included the list of the representatives of the Enlightment：Francis Bacon who first introduced experimental approach to natural science researches;Thomas Hobbeswhosystematically illustrated mechanical materialism, based on Bacon’s Experimentalism;John Loche whose theory on government provided the theoretical ground for the limited government and paive freedom;Immanuel Kant who wrote The Critique of Pure Reason and Critique of Practical Reason;Denis Diderot who was the representative of Encyclopedia and the chief editor of the first French Encyclopedia.In addition to ideological revolution, Industrial Revolution could not be avoided as it brought too much changes to the country, to the continent, to the whole world and to the human beings as a whole.It was the result of ideological revolutions.Industrial Revolution started from England and from textile industry.In 1733, the first shuttle was invented, and then a spinning machine invented, and then more advanced weaving machines invented.This batteries of invention led to the need for machine manufacturing and skill evolutions.Manufacturing required more power.In 1785，Watt’s modified stream engine was brought into use, marked the new time of Steam Engine.With machines taking the place of people’s manual work, factories took the place of workshops.Then the time of industry.When America Independence War broke out, England was the strongest power, but got defeated.European culture in 17th-18th was reflected in other fields like literature, painting ,drawing and architecture, etc.Comparison between European culture and American culture.Comparison is restricted to a few aspects:

The social changes on both sides were aociated with religion.But America separated religion from autonomous government.The monarchy’s direct control could not reach the colonies , leaving the colonies much freedom to concentrate on economic development.Religious influence could be felt but not so directly or closely tied with politics.However, religion in Europe was bound with aristocratic and ruling cla.Especially Catholic remained in its controlling status.Religious suppreion was common while religious tolerance was rare.European Culture was unevenly distributed geographically due to the varied situation of different countries.Constitutional Monarchy in England brought the country on the way towards industrialization and politically peace.Enlightment reached its climax in France and finally ledto French revolution.The revolution overthrew the Bourbon Dynasty and resulted in iuing the

Declaration of Human Rights.Germany was still divided and bourgeoisie cla was too weak to let their voice be heard.That’s why German had no brave fighters as Voltaire and Roueau to oppose the authority openly.German people expreed their thoughts in an ambiguous or hidden way, as Goethe and Schiller did in their literary works.While Europeans were active in liberating their mind, Americans were working hard to achieve wealth.They had no aristocratic background or patrons to support them in intelligence cultivation.Self-made way was a must for everybody.What Benjamin Franklin and Patric Henry had experienced was typical of most Americans.One had to be a prentice or bookkeeper or a busineman long enough before he could be somebody.That’s why they believed in individualism, pioneering spirit, diligence, thrift, strong will and determination.With this in mind, one will not feel puzzled at their victory over British governors.The two cultures both had a great revolution resulting in new government.The thoughts concerning democracy, republic, human rights and limited government paved the way for the two revolutions.Both countries outlined their new government according to these political thoughts.But French revolution did not last long, as the Anti-French Alliance of the surrounding countries attached the new Republic.The opposing power with outside attacks brought the Republic to the end.In contrast, the Independence War of America grew steady since its birth despite the British suppreion.On the one hand, British arm force was too far away to shed its strong power;on the other hand, the descendants of the Anglo-Saxon Protestants were too strong to be suppreed.Conclusively, American culture and European culture in 17th-18th century were not isolated from each other, but they grew on different soil.They borrowed from each other but had their own way to go.Long History is a burden as well as a treasure, as is proven by the fast growth of the new nation America.Works Cited

Chai Huiting.English Puritans.Shanghai:Shanghai Academy of Social Science Pre, 1994.Merriam, C.E.History of American Politics.Trans.Zhu Zengwen.Beijing:Commercial Pre,1988.Webber Max.the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.Trans Yu Xiao, Chen Weigang

Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Pre，1986.Yu Ke Contemporary Christianity Beijing:Oriental Pre，1993.Reichley A J.Religion in American public life.Washington: Brookings Institution Pre, 1985.