The Puritan Gene Of American Constitution

Puritanism has decisive influence over the constitution and the political system ofthe United States of America. It is revealed by the title of this paper that Puritanism isthe gene of American constitutionalism, and it runs through the whole history ofAmerica, no matter the Colonial period, or the Founding period, or the period of CivilWar, or the Roosevelt period. Furthermore, the more crucial the period is, the moreobvious the influence of Puritanism. The influence of Puritanism was destined longago such as the time when the “May flower Convention” was signed at the colonialperiod, as well as the time when Winthrop published “A Model of Christian Charity”on Albella. The Puritans extended to the south of America through the rooting,development, and expansion of New England, which makes the whole Americadeeply engraved with the gene of Puritanism. As Tocqueville said,“the new Englandcivilization, like the fire burning in the highlands, is warming areas around the outside,also use it lightened the distant horizon.”“It is in the north of several British colonies,the people known as the new England States, produced several main ideas becometoday’s American society theory basis. The main idea of the New England, first to theadjacent states, and then spread to distant states, can finally say across the wholefederation.”The Influence of Puritanism on the United States of America is mainly embodiedin its provisional constitution. The soul of provisional constitution is “equality” and“consent” between devotees. Since the devotees are equal, there shall not be a higherrank to exercise any external and mandatory ruling. Therefore, self-ruling and internalruling became the only choice. This is exactly the reason why Calvinists stronglyemphasized on democracy and self-ruling.Only through insistency on democracy can it be shown that it is self-managementand self-ruling that truly a blessing of God. This kind of democratic systemdevelopment achieved the tradition of village autonomy in the United States ofAmerica; moreover a strong state power was founded, and finally engraved in thefourth article of federal constitution that is the power relations between federation andthe states. Nevertheless, this kind of extreme thoughts of state-power wascounterproductive during the period of Civil War.In addition, Puritanism is of strong capitalist spirit which continuouslyencourages Americans to carve out careers and to prevail. The notion of Puritans is tocontinuously pursue their “calling” which by its modern meaning is occupation andalso has a sacred transcendent dimension. Occupation is a “call” from God to thechosen ones who can only be saved through constant working which had been given areligious significance and became a mission. They have to prove that they are thechosen ones through the success of business, and then to have the grace of God.