The Puritans and the Pilgrims(1607 – 1776)

Meeting 2

Matakuliah : G0862/American Culture and SocietyTahun : 2007

Contents

• The Mayflower compact• Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”• The Constitution• American Democracy

Mayflower Compact

http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/PrimarySources/MayflowerCompact.php

The Mayflower Compact (transcript)In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord King James by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of the faith, e&Haveing undertaken, for ðe glorie of god, and advancemente of the Christian faith and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant the first colonie in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ðe presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ðe ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just & equall lawes, ordinances, Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete & convenient for ðe generall good of ðe Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ðe .11. of November, in the year of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord King James, of England, France, & Ireland ðe eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom. 1620.

Protestant ethics

The religious underpinnings of the Protestant ethic had largely gone from society. Benjamin Franklin emphasized frugality, hard work and thrift, but were mostly free of spiritual content. Only after expensive luxuries were disdained, could individuals accept the uniform products, such as clothes and furniture, that industrialization offered.

Protestant ethics

The purchasing of luxuries or items to make one's life more pleasurable was considered a sin. Donations to an individual's church or congregation was limited due to the rejection by certain Protestant sects of icons. Finally, donation of money to the poor or to charity was generally frowned on as it was seen as furthering beggary. This social condition was, in turn, seen as laziness, burdening their fellow man, and an afront to God, simply due to the fact that if one is not working, then one wasn't glorifying God.

Common Sense“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth”

(Thomas Paine, Common Sense, introduction to the third edition) http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/sense1.htm

Constitution

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. “

(the US Constitution)http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_transcript.html

American Political SystemTHE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACYSovereignty of the people.Government based upon consent of the governed.Majority rule.Minority rights.Guarantee of basic human rights.Free and fair elections.Equality before the law.Due process of law.Constitutional limits on government.Social, economic, and political pluralism.Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.

Separation of church and state

Idea that the government and religion should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. In the United States, this idea is based on the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that the government cannot make any laws to establish a state religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.

The separation of church and stateThe separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."

The phrase separation of church and state is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, where Jefferson spoke of the combined effect of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Separation of powers

Separation of powers - division of governmental authority among the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial branch.

The US Constitution uses this principle in setting up the presidency, the Congress, and the courts.