Core Values In America

As puritans began to settle into America, they held three core values as a way to righteously live life. Those three values were: piety, courage, and industry. Hence, these values made their way into many sermons and early American writings that are still read in our modern day. To be pious is to devote yourself to a religion, in this case the puritans were pious towards God. Courage is the ability to do something brave in a frightful situation. Lastly, industry is the ability to work hard towards something. To the puritans, God always came first so they decided to leave their home countries to stay devoted to their religion. It took much valor and hard work to withstand days at sea surrounded by ill people and a limited food supply. Nonetheless, they would go through such extremities to remain pious to their beliefs.
As time passed by and more began to settle in America, puritans lost sight of their core values they once held so deeply. Townsfolk became less religious, innovative, and fearless since they found wealth to be more valuable
“And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings, was, with a roll of the ship, thrown into sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards, which hung overboard and ran out at length.” (Bradford 4) In this case, Bradford explains that God saved the young innocent man’s life since he was devoted to God. Another example of piety in early American literature is Bradstreet’s “To My Dear and Loving Husband.” “Thy love is such I can no way repay. The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.” (Bradstreet 15) Anne had cherished the love her husband gave her so much, which she desired for him to be rewarded in the afterlife for his immense love for