The Enlightenment and Great Awakening: The Creation of a Unique American Culture

JachimiecU.S. History2015-16

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

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)

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