1. The Enlightenment and Great Awakening: The Creation of a Unique American Culture Jachimiec U.S. History 2015-16

2. Enlightenment Time: 1700’s Origins: Greeks/Romans, Renaissance (1400s-1500s), and growing literacy Religion and traditional beliefs cannot provide all answers about how world works Important principles: observation, reason, logic data, natural laws, math and scientific method Led by scientists, mathematicians and philosophers Influences writing of Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights

3. The Great Awakening (1730s-40s) Response to perceived decline in morals Led by fiery traveling ministers who sought to rekindle dedication to Church – Key speakers: Jonathan Edwards & George Whitefield Main idea: humanity is highly sinful and must constantly repent in order to feel God’s mercy Effects: Revival of Christian religious faiths in colonies, creation of new denominations (Methodists, Baptists) and decline of old ones (Puritans, Anglicans)

4. Similarities People question traditional authority – Both emphasize individual Both led colonists to question Britain’s role in the colonies Both help create atmosphere that led to American Revolution America becomes hub of innovation and religiosity, simultaneously