To be able to understand how the Puritans shaped today’s government, we must first understand the basic laws of Puritan belief. Two of their main beliefs were that people could rule themselves, and that Godly people worked hard to gain wealth. Over the years, these beliefs have become essential to the American way of life.

In the journal, “ Puritanism and It’s Impact Upon American Values” Ning Kang presents the idea that Puritan beliefs played a fundamental part in founding American democracy. The Puritans came to America for the ability to practice their religion freely, so it is no surprise when they wanted to start a new church. They established a church “in which they chose priests by themselves and managed by themselves” (Kang 150). We see this in modern America through our government, and the fact that we get to vote is a direct result of the Puritan government. Their system also did not give all the power to one person much like how our government has different branches that share the power.

Because the Puritans believed in predestination, the Puritans thought that if they worked hard in this life they would be rewarded in Heaven. So they dedicated their life to making sure they worked hard enough to get into heaven. Even social activists like Benjamin Franklin wrote about the importance of hard work, which led many people to move west in the pursuit of wealth. This translates to American’s today because “to most American’s, material achievements are the mark of one’s success” (Kang 150). The Puritan’s established the sense of hard work that we still admire today.

Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates these principles in “The Scarlet Letter”. He shows hard work, through Hester by showing how she provides for herself and Pearl by using her talents in needlework. He even subtly displays democracy through the fact that the council had to vote on whether Pearl should stay with her mother. Overall, Hawthorne portrays how Puritan beliefs slowly shaped the American society we know today.