Thomas Jefferson and the Puritans
Thomas Jefferson is an extremely interesting, talented, and complex man. Like the Puritans, Jefferson believed in education for all, and education being the only way to support and promote the society. However, Jefferson's reasons were different from those of the Puritans. He felt that if people were educated they would be able to think for themselves and stand up against tyranny. He also felt that if all people were educated a certain educated aristocracy would rise up to be the leaders of the nation. These two ideas were the main points behind his support for education for all. The Puritans, in contrast, believed that everyone needed to be educated so that they could read and follow the teachings of the Bible. They felt if the whole of society would read the bible their society would be right and flourish. They didn't feel they were educating people to make up their own minds or cultivate leaders like Jefferson did. It is fascinating to contrast two of the ideologies that helped shape the American educational system.
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