The Great Awakening v The Enlightenment VS Religion

The Great Awakening v. The Enlightenment VS

Religion in Colonial America Puritanism dominant early in New England, but other Protestant churches start to form The Anglican Church is rooted in the South Catholics and Jews are few, but distrusted Some religious leaders are concerned with the decline in piety and religion

What was the Great Awakening? George Whitefield preaching • Religious revival movement • Evangelicism – “new birth” considered the ultimate religious experience • Followers accepted that they were sinners and asked for salvation 3

Old Lights vs. New Lights • Churches that grew as a result of the Great Awakening: Presbyterianism, Methodism, Baptism (New Lights) • Great Awakening challenged authority and hierarchy of established churches (Old Lights: Congregationalists and Anglicans) • Great Awakening said that anybody could be converted and born again. You didn’t need traditional church leadership to decide whether or not you belonged. 4

Jonathan Edwards Famous preacher of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Most famous and influential preacher of the Great Awakening (also very scary)

George Whitefield Famous open air preacher of the revival- spoke to crowds as high as 30, 000 Preached about the religious power of the common man

Effect of the Great Awakening Split denominations and created competitiveness among churches Helped establish the revolutionary mindset and the willingness to challenge authority Made religion personal and individual (different for each person) Converted many women, gave women more power Encouraged missionary work with slaves and women

More Effects Led to the creation of new light colleges: Dartmouth, Brown, Rutgers, College of New Jersey (Princeton), King’s College (Columbia), Brown

The Enlightenment Philosophical movement that focused on Reason and Science as the means to achieve progress and improve society Enlightenment also worked to undermine and challenge traditional authority Science and Reason could compete with religion and faith

John Locke His enlightenment ideas were very important in challenging British authority The right to rebel and the contract theory of government Natural rights: life, liberty, property

Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract Wrote that government is formed by consent (agreement) of people People make their own laws

Baron de Montesquieu Wrote that three types of political power: Executive Legislative Judicial …should be separated into different branches of the government to protect the people and stop any branch from abusing its power. (checks and balances)

Ben Franklin A great American thinker of The Enlightenment

Effects of Enlightenment in America More focus on Education Technological and medical advancements in America Contributed to important principles in our founding documents (Declaration, Constitution)

The GA and Enlightenment They help to create the attitude necessary for the Revolution Challenging Authority Help the colonists to create their own unique societies and character (different from England)