What did the Puritan colonists' understanding of themselves reveal about the founding cultures of the New World.

The most important aspect of the Puritan colonists'
understanding of themselves is the fact that they felt they were meant to create a "city
on a hill" that would be an example for the rest of the world.  This fact shows us that
this "founding culture," at least, saw itself as superior to other cultures.  It also
shows that the Puritans felt that they were both able to and obliged to create a perfect
society on earth.

There are at least two important results
of this that can be seen in both the short and long terms of American history.  First,
there is a tendency to see our own culture as superior to that of others.  That has, one
can argue, led to such things as the eradication of most Native Americans and to much
later efforts to spread democracy around the world.  Second, there is an abiding belief
in reform in the US.  From some of the earliest days of our country, we have believed
that we can arrange things so that our society and culture can become more and more
perfect.  This has informed such movements as the abolitionist movement and
Prohibition.

In these ways Puritan colonists' understanding
of themselves helps us understand more about the "founding culture" of our
nation.