The Puritan Era
There is no doubt in history that the Puritan era was a fascinating, and remarkable
time. The Puritans indeed shaped young America, and the early years of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Puritans had deep pride in their community,
and even greater pride in their faith, and their beliefs. Religion was the most
important aspect of their community, and they wanted it to be the center focus of the
society that they were building. Their faith was continuously practiced, and preached
from the time they were a newborn, and continued upon the day that they passed.
They found that literature was the most ingenious way to teach their faith. In order
for everybody to be able to master the religion, they set up classrooms, and hired
teachers.... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Puritans greatest value was without a doubt their religion, and their faith. They
valued trying to enforce an education for the children, in order for the practice of
their religion to be sought out, and carried on for generations to come. The
importance of education was shown in the first educational law in Massachusetts
which was called, The Old Deluder Act of 1647 . This law stated that, It is therefore
ordered that every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to
fifty households shall forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such
children as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by
the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of
supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint;
provided those that send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than
they can have them taught for in other towns. ( The Old Deluder Act (1647). )This
law showed the magnitude of how important education was for their community. The
importance of family was also a strong value amongst the Puritans. Puritans such as,
Anne Bradstreet truly showed the emphasis, and importance on family life within the
lines of her poetry. Her poetry truly gave insight on the community, and what was
important for the families. One poem in particular that shows what family meant to a
mother during the Puritan era is titled, In Reference to Her Children. Bradstreet
strong emotions towards her beloved children are shown in lines such, That did
what could be done for young / And nurst you up till you were strong / And fore she
once would let you fly / She shew d you joy and misery, / Taught what was good, and
what was ill, / What would save life, and what would kill. / Thus gone, amongst you I
may live, / And dead, yet speak and counsel give. / Farewell, my