The Puritans' efforts can be traced back to the Mayflower Compact in 1620, which was America's first contract style of government. All adult males had to sign this pledge. Wherever the Puritans went in New England, they were known for their town hall meetings and for governing locally. The majority ruled at town hall meetings, which is a valuable part of American democracy to this day.
Another example is the Puritan educational model. Each town of over fifty families had to provide a public school for the children. The Puritans were offshoots of the Protestant Reformation which stated that people should be able to read the Bible. While the Bible is not a standard textbook in American public school today, basic literacy is still something that public education strives to accomplish. The Puritans also believed in the strength of a liberal arts education; to this day, America spends a great deal on education.
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