1. Colonial America

Puritan intolerance
Although the Puritans fled Europe because of religious intolerance they have, at times, also shown intolerance for others –
- sometimes this has been intolerance of toward people who do not think the same as they do, and at other times it has been towards people within their own community. (intolerance不包容)
The Puritan Way of LIfe Religion played an essential role in everyday Puritan life. The Puritans felt that they were chosen by God for a special purpose and that they must live every moment as if God was watching them. Every man, woman, and child was expected to attend the church meeting on Sundays. Puritans were required to read the Bible as much as possible. If they did not read the Bible, it was thought that they were worshiping the devil.
Religious Diversity Because there was no control of religion by the English government in America, the English Colonies soon became the destination for religious dissenters, people who disagreed with the practices of the powerful church in England and who wanted to worship God in their own way.
Salem and Witchcraft (巫术) Secularization (世俗化 ) increased, ending as a great fear of Witchcraft and leading to various witch trials, the most terrible of which took place in Salem in 1692. About 150 people were accused and 20 were executed, placing the town in a state of hysteria for a long time.
The economy of the English Colonies was tied to the English economy, which was based on mercantilism. Mercantilism is the belief that a nation’s power is determined by the strength of its economy. This meant that England wanted raw materials for industry. The American Colonies were just used as providers of cheap raw material for industry in England. So the economy and daily life of the colonies was very strictly controlled.
To own land remained the most important attraction for the settlers (定居者), despite conflicts with the Native Americans. In order to ensure law and order, the English government issued the Proclamation of 1763, which banned English settlement east of the Appalachian Mountains. This meant that the colonists could not move east, even if they wanted to.
The colonies showed early signs of wanting independence from England. They controlled their own currency and wages. But this freedom was threatened by a series of new rules imposed by England to control trade. Britain needed to raise money to pay for its European wars, and used the colonies to do this.
They landed at Cape Cod in 1620 and established the Plymouth Plantation.
The Puritans fled England, and in America attempted to create a "nation of saints" or the “City Upon A Hill”, an intensely religious, thoroughly righteous community designed to be an example for all of Europe.
Western history says that Columbus discovered America in1492, but we know that some North European (北欧的/Scandinavian) visitors landed and settled in North America long before Coluas the term used to describe the unexplored area of land beyond the region where Europeans had settled down to live. As pioneers moved into the frontier zone they were changed significantly by the experience.
The American Dream is the freedom that allows all citizens and most residents of the United States to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice.
Puritan beliefs have had a lasting effect on American culture. The main points are: (1)A tradition that believes national well-being and prosperity are the result of commonly held virtues, morality, and belief in God; (2) Manifest Destiny, an idea that says the US considers itself an example to other countries and that it believes its role is to do good in the world; and (3) a sense of moral or civic responsibility towards fellow citizens and men.
(dissent:意见不合)
The Puritans The Puritans demanded changes in the Anglican Church, which they thought was corrupt, and too interested in rituals and wealth. In order to escape problems and persecution for their faith, some left for the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century and then moved on to North America.
The obvious question to ask is Why did this happen? Perhaps it was because the men in control saw their power weakening as secularization became stronger, and one way to maintain power is to make people afraid, and to make them feel that only YOU can keep them safe. We will see the same ideas occurring in the 1950s, with the fear of Communism during the Cold War.