Learning Goal 1.) Describe the time period known as the Enlightenment and explain the contributions of: Thomas Paine, John Locke, Baron Charles von Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Learning Goal 2.) Describe the movement known as the Great Enlightenment and give examples of its impact in the colonies

Learning Goal 3.) Distinguish how the Englightenment and the Great Awakening are different, but how they each influenced the colonists.

An intellectual movement which began in England in the 17 th century. Its purpose was to reform society using reason and the scientific method. It promoted scientific thought and skepticism. It opposed superstition and intolerance, with the Catholic church a favorite target.

The Enlightenment emphasizes reason and science as the path to knowledge Enlightenment thinkers stressed observation or empiricism as the means to understanding the world

The Enlightenment was a time when thinkers applied natural laws to the sciences and to societies. Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and government influenced leaders in Europe and the colonies

Movement beginning in Europe Knowledge, reason, & science could improve society Schools of higher learning open across America Best known American scientist

Science Isaac Newton – Father of modern science – Discovers gravity Renee’ Descartes – “I think, therefore I am” – Thought proves existance

Society Thomas Hobbes – Humans are naturally selfish – Absolute government (with strong monarch) is the only way to keep man “in check.”

Society John Locke – Humans are naturally kind – Man has inalienable rights that cannot be taken away: LIFE, LIBERTY, and PROPERTY – The Social Contract Theory: – You and Government have an unwritten contract. – You agree to let them rule as long as Government protects your inalienable rights. – If they don’t – you have the right to choose a new government.

Society

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – - True liberty happens when government can keep watch over itself. – Argued that government must have free and independent body to argue for the people (Parliament in England; Congress in the United States) – Early form of checks and balances

* Examine the ideas of these four men. Take 5 minutes and list at least 3 ways the Enlightenment movement argued against an absolute monarchy. Will the real John Locke, PLEASE STAND UP?!!! The Enlightenment influenced the colonists

The Great Awakening also influenced the colonists…

In the Early 1700s, many colonists lost the religious passion that had driven Pilgrims, Puritans, and others to seek out a new life in America In the 1730s-1740, a religious revival began to sweep through the colonies, led by traveling ministers

The Great Awakening began in the New England Colonies and spread through the rest of Colonial America. This movement was lead by traveling ministers Sermons appealed to the heart and drew large crowds

Tent Revival Video

* What was the Great Awakening’s Message? 1.) Salvation by faith and prayer, not rituals or good works. 2.) The individual, not any religious authority, judged his or her own behavior based on one's understanding of God. No priest, pastor, pope, or king! 5.) Accepting: unlike Puritans who banished all who weren’t Puritan, the movement taught acceptance. 4.) Revivals (crowds of 1000’s, weeping, wailing) 3.) Because the individual was in control of their salvation, individual experiences with God were important and often shared at services.

George Whitefield Jonathan Edwards

Because of the accepting nature of the movement, people felt free to choose their own religious affiliation. Decline of “Old Light” groups such as the Puritans, Quakers, and Anglicans. Rise of “New Light” of Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, all revival groups of the period. (American Protestantism)

Religious diversity by 1775 The emphasis on individual experiences weakend the role of Puritan ministers in the Northeast, which also led to more reilgious diversity.

 New colleges were founded to educate their preachers and their followers.  These include Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, and Columbia Universities.

New colleges founded after the Great Awakening

Religious toleration - the new protestant movements were very willing to work together. Acceptance: People became more tolerant, not seeing each other as members of a particular religious group, but as Americans. The 13 colonies were much more united now than they had ever before…

 Through the Awakening, the Colonists realized that religious power resided in their own hands, rather than in the hands of the Church of England, or any other religious authority.  After a generation or two passed with this kind of mindset, the Colonists came to realize that political power resided in their own hands as well, not in the hands of a monarch.

Similarities and differences between the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening The Englightenment The Great Awakening Political / scientific movement Religious movement Sought to use scientific methods to explain natural world as something beyond an act of “God.” Saw Puritan way of life in decay and sought to return people to religious life. Supported Reason Supported Emotionalism and Religious Faith Both caused people to question traditional authority and practice Both highlighted importance of individual over higher authority (king or church)

The King (Head of Gov’t) (Head of Church) The EnlightenmentThe Great Awakening So…how do these influence the colonists?