Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, Free University of Berlin, language: English, abstract: Americans express a peculiar fascination with the founding of their country. Bothcitizens and scholars often disagree over details of the beginnings but many Americansdefine themselves in relation to the founding. History inspires them and provides a patrioticsense of belonging. It is often debated whether current policies are faithful to the so-calledfounding principles, what has stayed the same and what has changed. Though manycountries celebrate their birth, only Americans combine so much cultural myths and politicalhistory.Alexis de Tocqueville famously said: “I think I can see the whole destiny of Americacontained in the first Puritan who landed on those shores”(Tocqueville 1831-32). Andindeed, much of American mainstream culture builds on a Puritan legacy. They claim tohave inherited it by promoting the idea of religious freedom and equal opportunity, by beinga ‘city upon a hill’, a stronghold for democracy, and much more. However, only by retracingthe historical development of Puritanism and its roots, it becomes possible to determine whatsufficiently defines the Puritan legacy and what causes the persistent relevance in Americanpolitics up to this day. As Perry Miller stated, “[w]ithout some understanding of Puritanism,it may safely be said, there is no understanding of America” (Miller 1950, 4).In this work I will therefore begin with reviewing the historical background ofPuritan theology and development in North America. Given this as a basis, I intend to traceback political modes of thought and behavior to Puritan roots. I will answer the question inhow far Puritanism is still alive today and how its legacy to American politics can bedescribed.
