Puritans and Recreation Debate

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Questions and Answers

What was the Puritan perspective on sports and recreation?

They believed sports and recreation were unnecessary. (correct)

They believed sports were essential for a balanced life.

They felt sports should only be played on weekdays.

They encouraged all forms of recreation equally.

Which Puritan leader argued for the necessity of moderate recreation?

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Franklin

John Downame (correct)

John Winthrop

What types of recreation became acceptable among the Puritans over time?

Horse racing and fights

Basketball and cricket

Fishing, hunting, and walking (correct)

Dance parties and gambling

How did Benjamin Franklin contribute to the concept of recreation in education?

He advocated for a curriculum including physical education and sports. Signup and view all the answers

What recreational activities were popular in the American South?

Fox hunting and cock fighting Signup and view all the answers

What was a common belief among Puritans regarding free time?

It should be used for prayer and work. Signup and view all the answers

What entertainment venues provided socializing opportunities in New England?

Taverns and pubs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sports was NOT mentioned in the Mid Atlantic States?

Skiing Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first well-known American pugilist mentioned in the content?

Tom Molineaux Signup and view all the answers

Which sport became popular among Native Americans with the introduction of horses?

Lacrosse Signup and view all the answers

What technology significantly contributed to the modernization of sports in the United States during industrialization?

Electric lights Signup and view all the answers

What philosophical movement emphasized the importance of nature and physical activities?

Transcendentalism Signup and view all the answers

Who is recognized as the first superstar of cycling?

Marshall Taylor Signup and view all the answers

Which sport is described as having changed significantly from local contests to a modern sport format between 1820 and 1870?

Horse racing Signup and view all the answers

What was a key aspect of Muscular Christianity as described in the content?

Emphasizing the body as a temple to the soul Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of baseball contributed to its rise in popularity mentioned in the content?

It was easier to play than cricket. Signup and view all the answers

What major change occurred in physical education during the 1900s?

Health and physical education began to emphasize exercise for women. Signup and view all the answers

Which club was one of the first organized baseball clubs in New York City?

The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the rules of baseball that are largely used today?

Alexander Cartwright Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the conference held in Boston in 1889?

It aimed to establish an American approach to gymnastics. Signup and view all the answers

In what year was the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players established?

1871 Signup and view all the answers

Which notable concept emphasizes the link between mind and body proposed in the 1900s?

Mens sana en corpore sano Signup and view all the answers

What role did Mary E. Allen believe exercise played for women in the late 19th century?

It was essential to their role in motherhood. Signup and view all the answers

Which schools were notable for training physical education teachers before World War I?

Sargent Normal School and Boston University Signup and view all the answers

What year was Springfield College, originally YMCA International Training School, established?

1887 Signup and view all the answers

Which organization was renamed to become the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1910?

Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States Signup and view all the answers

Who organized the Bunion Derby, a foot race from Los Angeles to New York?

C.C. Pyle Signup and view all the answers

What significant event in college football occurred in 1905?

Eighteen football players were killed Signup and view all the answers

Which year marked the first Super Bowl?

1966 Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first African American to play in the NFL, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Fritz Pollard Signup and view all the answers

Which of these sports had its first graduate degree program at Teachers College, Columbia University?

Physical Education Signup and view all the answers

Which prominent figure is credited with the invention of basketball?

James A. Naismith Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Puritans and Sport

Puritans felt that sport and recreation were unnecessary and sinful.
They believed Sunday was the Lord's day and any sport or work was forbidden.
Football was seen as a violent sport that led to drinking and rowdiness among men.
Puritans believed free time should be spent working and being productive.
Puritans recognized that moderate recreation could benefit individuals.
John Downame, a New England minister, argued that rest could help people work and pray.
John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company, saw recreation as essential for well-being.
Fishing, hunting, and walking were accepted forms of recreation, as they refreshed individuals and improved health.

Amusements in New England

Taverns were social spaces similar to German pubs that offered drinks, competitions, and socializing.
They were located a day's horseback ride apart, stretching across the region from Canada to Georgia.
Tavern owners hosted competitions with prizes like turkey shoots.
Over time, activities like hopscotch, horse racing, ice skating, and sleigh riding became more socially acceptable.

Sport in the Mid-Atlantic States

Benjamin Franklin believed in a healthy environment with gardens, meadows, orchards, and playing fields.
His 1749 academy in Philadelphia incorporated physical education and sporting competitions into its curriculum.
Popular activities included running races, wrestling, leaping, and swimming.
New York saw horse racing, bowling, golf, and early forms of croquet, tennis, and cricket.

Sport in the American South

Southerners prioritized adventure over religion.
Planters bet money and tobacco on horse races, often in the streets.
Hunting, fishing, rowing, lawn bowling, dancing, cock fighting, boxing, and fencing were also popular.
Social class often dictated appropriate sporting behavior, with activities like boxing and horse racing often involving enslaved individuals.

Native Americans

Lacrosse was a prominent sport.
Horse racing gained popularity after the introduction of horses.

Changes in the United States (1820s)

The United States began transitioning from agrarian communities to industrialization.
Innovations like the telegraph, railroad, steamboats, and tools modernized society and spurred urban migration.
Mass production facilitated the production of sports uniforms and equipment, enabling wider participation.
Electric lights and trolleys made it easier for people to attend sporting events, particularly baseball games.
Cameras began documenting sporting events.

Transcendentalism and Pragmatism

Transcendentalism, a New England literary movement, encouraged individuals to connect with nature.
Writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson promoted physical activity and connected it to self-discovery and well-being.
Henry Thoreau emphasized the physical nature of humanity and communion with nature.
Pragmatism, influenced by Charles Darwin, focused on practicality and observation through the senses.
Charles Peirce, a key figure in pragmatism, advocated for understanding the world through experience.

Muscular Christianity

This movement emphasized the virtues of physical strength and power, viewing the body as a temple.
It sought to promote the good in sports and connect them to spirituality.

Sports in the 1800s

Horse racing evolved from a local pastime to a more organized and competitive sport.
Marshall Taylor, an African American cyclist, became a major star in the late 19th century, gaining international recognition.
Cricket, popular among English immigrants, failed to gain widespread popularity in the United States.
Baseball gained popularity in the mid-19th century, with the first organized clubs emerging in New York City.
Alexander Cartwright developed the rules of baseball currently used.
The National Association of Base Ball Players was established in 1858.
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP) was formed in 1871.
The first football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869.
The Intercollegiate Association for Football was formed in 1873.
Walter Camp significantly altered the rules of football, transforming it into the sport we know today.
Rowing enjoyed widespread popularity in the late 1800s.
During this period, many organized sports underwent modernization with established rules, governing institutions, and record-keeping.

Health and Physical Education in the 1900s

Health became a significant focus in the early 20th century, examining the connection between mind and body.
The "Mens sana en corpore sano" principle gained prominence: a healthy mind in a healthy body.
William G. Anderson, a leading figure in physical education, founded the American Association for the Advancement of Physical Education (AAAPE), later renamed the American Physical Education Association (APEA).
Catherine Beecher promoted calisthenics for women, emphasizing the development of beautiful bodies.
Lewis emphasized gymnastics, preparing women for motherhood.
Mary E. Allen highlighted the physical and mental benefits of exercise for women in the late 19th century.
An 1889 conference in Boston compared German and Swedish gymnastics to establish a distinctly American approach.
The AAAPE created professional positions for men and women in physical education.
The Sargent Normal School of Physical Education, later merging with Boston University, became the Sargent College of Physical Education in 1902.
Springfield College, originally the YMCA International Training School, was founded in 1887.
Teachers College, Columbia University established the first graduate program in physical education in 1901.
Dudley Sargent established the Harvard Summer School of Physical Education in 1887.

Endurance Sports after World War I

Endurance-focused sports, like dancing and dance marathons, gained popularity after World War I.
The Bunion Derby, a foot race from Los Angeles to New York, was organized in 1928.
Scott Tinley became a prominent triathlete.

College Football

The Rose Bowl was first played in 1902.
The first recorded game between two Black colleges involved Biddle University.
In 1905, the sport saw numerous injuries and deaths, prompting President Theodore Roosevelt to meet with administrators and coaches to introduce safety reforms.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States was formed in 1905, later renamed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1910.
World War I led to a decline in collegiate athletics.

Professional Football

Professional football emerged in 1894, with teams composed of blue-collar workers and former college players.
The American Professional Football Association (APFA), now the NFL, was formed in 1920.
Jim Thorpe served as the first president of the APFA.
The American Football League (AFL) formed in 1960.
The Super Bowl first took place in 1966.
The AFL and NFL merged in 1970.
Rube Marshall and Fritz Pollard are recognized as the first African Americans in the NFL.

Baseball

Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American League by signing with the Cleveland Indians.
Jackie Robinson's success provided a catalyst for the integration of sports.

Basketball

Basketball was invented by Dr. James A. Naismith at Springfield College.

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Description

Explore the contrasting views of Puritans on sport and recreation, including their strict views on Sundays and violence associated with certain sports. Learn about the balance they found with moderate recreation, as advocated by figures like John Downame and John Winthrop.