Differences between 17th and 18th centuries
Before the Revolutionary period of politics and patriotism began in the 18th century, the last thing on the minds of the colonists of the new world was politics. These colonists of the 17th century were more concerned with their religion, religious revival, and reasonable thought. They were far more theological. Many of the first settlers of the new world made the dangerous journey to the new world to escape religious persecution. Puritans, Pilgrims, and Catholics, as well as some Jewish and Muslim peoples, came to America to flee the maltreatment that they were faced with in their homeland England, or, for the Pilgrims, Holland. The politics of England were of no concern to them. England was not yet unjustly taxing them or placing unrelenting restrictions upon them. They wanted to escape the ways of societies that did not agree with their beliefs, societies that they felt were corrupt. While the Pilgrims did draft the Mayflower Compact before disembarking, this was about as far as the concept of politics went in the 17th century. The early 18th century brought about the Great Awakening. As religious zest and appeal began to fade, some ministers strove to revive the spirit in their parishioners.
As the colonists began to think less religiously and more politically, they realized that they were being unfairly ruled by Mother England. The concepts of "taxation without representation" and "virtual representation" were flung back and forth between the two countries. England was placing taxes on the colonists to help themselves get out of debt from the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years' War. The colonists believed that they were being put at the same level as women and slaves, because, generally, England taxed only women and slaves. The colonists felt this taxation was especially unfair because they were not being represented in Parliament. England said that Parliament is there to represent ALL British subjects, colonists included. singly complained about the 'dead dogs' who droned out tedious, over erudite sermons from Puritan pulpits. Some ministers, on the other hand, worried that many of their parishioners had gone soft and that their souls were no longer kindled by the hellfire of orthodox Calvinism" (The American Pageant, page 94).
Some common words found in the essay are:
Angry God, Mayflower Compact, England Parliament, , Pilgrims Holland, God Edwards's, Mother England, Years' War, Europe Enlightenment, Declaration Independence, 18th century, sinners hands angry, women slaves, ten thousand, sinners hands, 17th century, hands angry, thousand times, wrath god, ten thousand times, hands angry god, towards politics, angry god,
Approximate Word count = 807
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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