Journal #13

Revivals – emotional gatherings where people came together to hear sermons about God

Revolution – a sudden, radical, or complete change

THE GREAT AWAKENING AND

AMERICAN CULTURE

Bonus Questions

Who overruled the colonial governments?

Colonial Assemblies had a 2 house legislature, which is also called what?

Explain the difference between mercantilism and free enterprise economic systems

Before the Great Awakening In the early 1700s church leaders are

worried that colonists are losing their faith

Some ministers believed that emotional and inspiring sermons would bring back religion for colonists

A few ministers begin holding revivals

The Great Awakening The Great Awakening reached its

height in the 1730s and 1740s

It was a widespread Christian movement involving sermons that emphasized faith in God

It changed colonial religion and social and political lifeGeorge Whitefield and Jonathan

Edwards were two of the most popular ministers

One Man’s Reaction to George Whitefield “When I saw Mr. Whitefield come upon

the scaffold, he looked almost angelical…for he looked as if he was clothed with authority from the Great God…and my hearing him preach gave me a heart wound.”

Nathan Cole

Old and New Lights Not everyone agreed with these new religious ideas

Traditionalists were called the “Old Lights”

The followers of the Great Awakening were called the “New Lights”

Some churches split into two – example: Presbyterian

Church leaders speak out against each other

The Great Awakening and Society1. Brought different groups together - people

of all different classes and races participated in the Great Awakening

2. Women were heavily involved

3. Education and communication were improved – new ideas are shared

4. Politics were affected – colonists hearing about spiritual equality begin to ask for more rights

AMERICAN CULTURE

New Ideas in Europe

During the 1600s western Europeans began to re-examine the world

They began to better understand the basic laws of nature

Their new ideas started The Scientific Revolution

Leaders of the Scientific Revolution

Galileo Galileishowed that planets revolved around

the sun

Sir Isaac Newton Explained how objects on Earth and

in the sky behaved – according to the laws of physics

Developed much of the scientific method

The Enlightenment Took place in the 1700s, it was brought on by

the Scientific Revolution

People began to use reason and logic to explain human actions and improve the world

Many ideas about how government should best serve the people Jean-Jacques Rousseau Voltaire Baron de Montesquieu John Locke – believed in natural rights of life, liberty,

property, and equality

John Locke

Enlightenment Ideals 1. Human autonomy is the means and end of Enlightenment

a. Enlightenment means that humans develop (become “mature”) through the use of their reason. Individuals can seek knowledge and use their own reason rather than be told how to think by the church or the state. Enlightenment means think for yourself! b. How much power should the government have over people’s lives?

2. The importance of reason a. Freedom means being able to think rationally for yourself. Kant argues that humanity must abandon a life of unreason, of relying on superstition, faith, and blind obedience. Instead, we must order our lives according to reason. b. Reason will lead us to the truth. We find truth through science rather than opinion or faith. Through scientific inquiry we can solve all the mysteries of the universe and reveal the solutions to all the problems people face. 

3. Enlightenment is universalAll human beings possess the ability to be enlightened. In other words, humans are equal by nature. All humans are part of a “universal community” who share a single universal human nature. Differences among people are less important than their fundamental sameness. 

Enlightenment Ideals 4. Progress

Humanity is progressing from immaturity, superstition, and slavery to maturity, reason, and freedom. Human history is therefore the story of progress in the human condition. 

5. SecularismReligion and politics should be separated. There should be no official religion. Further, one’s method of worship should be a private matter.

6. The centrality of economics to politicsThe social organization of production and distribution becomes a central problem for enlightenment ideologies. A society’s well-being depends on how its economy is structured.

7. The ideal of popular governmenta. People are capable of ruling themselves. The aristocracy is not the only class that deserved to rule. The middle class, or bourgeoisie, should also play a part in politics.b. Support for popular government developed into support for democracy in the nineteenth century. As a result, most governments today claim to be democratic.

Colonial Education There were more schools in New England than in

the southern and middle colonies

In New England they valued the ability to read the Bible, so towns paid for schools

Most colonial children stopped their education after elementary school After that most go to work on farms or as apprentices or

servants

A growing number of young men attend college There are 9 colleges at this time including Harvard

Colonial Scientists Many colonial scientists were self-

taught

In 1743 the American Philosophical Society was founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin FranklinTo study science and bring scientists

together

Another Famous ScientistsBenjamin Banneker – a free African

American from Maryland who designed very accurate clocks and accurately predicted a solar eclipse

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Famous author, printer, politician, scientist, inventor and diplomat.

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States

Invented the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, the catheter and founded the first lending library

He never patented his inventions Was one of his father’s15 children His father was a Puritan His mother was Abiah Folger (Folger’s Coffee) He became a printer’s apprentice at age 12 Had 3 children (one illegitimate (loyalist), another

who died at 4) Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac under the name

Richard Saunders Helped draft the Declaration of Independence Signed the U.S. Constitution Was an abolitionist (person who wanted to end

slavery)

Quotes of the Day “A small leak can sink a great ship.”

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”

Benjamin Franklin

Colonial Writers and Artists Most were self taught

Poets – Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley

Painters – John Smibert and his pupil Robert Feke

Colonial architecture and craftsmanship also improved – the rich lived in fancy brick houses with beautifully crafted furniture

On Being Brought from Africa to America

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,Taught my benighted soul to understandThat there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.Some view our sable race with scornful eye,"Their colour is a diabolic die."Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Phillis Wheatley

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-being-brought-from-africa-to-america/

Paintings by Robert Feke