🦬US History – Before 1865 Unit 4 – American Enlightenment & Great Awakening

What's This All About?

• Period of intellectual and cultural transformation in the American colonies during the 18th century
• Influenced by European Enlightenment ideas emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority
• Coincided with the First Great Awakening, a religious revival movement that swept through the colonies
• Challenged traditional religious and political structures, leading to significant social and cultural changes
• Laid the intellectual foundation for the American Revolution and the formation of a new nation based on Enlightenment principles
• Emphasized the importance of education, scientific inquiry, and individual rights and liberties
• Contributed to the development of a distinct American identity and culture separate from that of Great Britain

Key Players and Thinkers

• Benjamin Franklin: Polymath, inventor, and writer who embodied Enlightenment ideals of reason, practicality, and self-improvement
  • Published Poor Richard's Almanack, which promoted virtues of thrift, hard work, and education
  • Conducted scientific experiments, including his famous kite experiment on electricity
• Thomas Jefferson: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and advocate for religious freedom and individual rights
  • Wrote Notes on the State of Virginia, which explored Enlightenment ideas and criticized slavery
  • Designed Monticello, his plantation home, as a model of Enlightenment architecture and living
• John Locke: English philosopher whose ideas on natural rights, social contract theory, and limited government heavily influenced American Enlightenment thinkers
• Jonathan Edwards: Prominent theologian and preacher during the First Great Awakening
  • Delivered the famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," emphasizing the need for personal salvation
• George Whitefield: Charismatic preacher whose revivals during the First Great Awakening attracted large crowds and sparked religious fervor
• Phillis Wheatley: Enslaved African American poet who wrote poems reflecting Enlightenment themes and Christian faith
• Voltaire: French Enlightenment philosopher whose works critiquing religious intolerance and advocating for free speech were widely read in the colonies

Timeline of Major Events

• 1730s: The First Great Awakening begins, with revivals led by preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield
• 1743: Benjamin Franklin founds the American Philosophical Society to promote scientific inquiry and intellectual exchange
• 1754: The French and Indian War begins, heightening tensions between the British and the colonists
• 1763: The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War, with Britain gaining significant territory in North America
• 1764-1765: The Sugar Act and Stamp Act are passed, leading to colonial protests against British taxation without representation
• 1770: The Boston Massacre occurs, further straining relations between the colonists and the British
• 1773: The Boston Tea Party takes place, with colonists dumping British tea into the harbor in protest of the Tea Act
• 1775: The American Revolution begins with the Battles of Lexington and Concord
• 1776: The Declaration of Independence is adopted, formally declaring the colonies' independence from Great Britain
  • Reflects Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, consent of the governed, and the right to revolution

Big Ideas and Philosophies

• Reason: Emphasis on using rational thought and empirical evidence to understand the world and solve problems
  • Rejection of superstition, tradition, and blind faith in favor of scientific inquiry and logical reasoning
• Natural rights: Belief that all individuals are born with certain inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and property
  • These rights are not granted by governments but are inherent to human nature
• Social contract theory: Idea that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed
  • People agree to give up some individual freedoms in exchange for protection of their rights by the government
• Separation of church and state: Advocacy for the separation of religious institutions from political power
  • Belief that individuals should have freedom of conscience and not be subject to religious coercion by the state
• Progress and perfectibility: Optimistic view that human society can be improved through education, reason, and scientific advancement
  • Belief in the potential for individuals and society to achieve moral and intellectual perfection over time
• Individualism: Emphasis on the importance of individual autonomy, self-reliance, and personal responsibility
  • Encouragement of individuals to think for themselves and challenge traditional authorities
• Tolerance: Advocacy for religious and intellectual tolerance, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and beliefs
  • Rejection of dogmatism and the persecution of dissenting views

Religious Revival and Its Impact

• The First Great Awakening was a period of intense religious revivalism that swept through the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s
• Characterized by emotional preaching, mass conversions, and a focus on personal salvation and spiritual renewal
• Led by charismatic preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, who attracted large crowds and sparked religious fervor
  • Edwards' sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" emphasized the wrathful nature of God and the need for repentance
  • Whitefield's theatrical preaching style and powerful oratory drew thousands to his revivals
• Challenged the authority of established religious institutions and encouraged a more democratic approach to faith
  • Emphasized the importance of individual religious experience and direct communication with God
• Contributed to the growth of new religious denominations, such as Baptists and Methodists, which appealed to the common people
• Helped to break down social and cultural barriers, as people from different classes and backgrounds came together in shared religious experiences
• Laid the groundwork for the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century, which further shaped American religious and social life

Political and Social Changes

• The Enlightenment and Great Awakening contributed to a growing sense of American identity and a desire for greater political autonomy
• Challenged traditional hierarchies and authority structures, both in religion and politics
  • Encouraged individuals to think for themselves and question established institutions
• Fueled resistance to British colonial rule and taxation, as colonists increasingly saw themselves as entitled to the same rights and liberties as English citizens
  • Protests against the Stamp Act and other taxes were informed by Enlightenment ideas of consent of the governed and no taxation without representation
• Laid the intellectual foundation for the American Revolution and the creation of a new nation based on Enlightenment principles
  • The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution reflect ideas of natural rights, limited government, and the separation of powers
• Contributed to the growth of a more egalitarian and democratic society, as ordinary people gained a greater sense of their own agency and importance
  • The First Great Awakening, in particular, helped to break down social barriers and create a more inclusive religious community
• Sparked debates over the role of religion in public life and the relationship between church and state
  • Some Enlightenment thinkers advocated for the separation of religious institutions from political power, while others saw religion as a necessary foundation for moral society

Cultural and Artistic Developments

• The Enlightenment and Great Awakening inspired new forms of cultural expression and artistic production in the colonies
• Literature and poetry began to reflect Enlightenment themes of reason, nature, and individual experience
  • Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved African American poet, wrote poems that combined Christian faith with Enlightenment ideas of human equality and dignity
  • Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack used wit and practical wisdom to promote Enlightenment values of thrift, industry, and self-improvement
• Architecture and design were influenced by Enlightenment principles of order, symmetry, and functionality
  • Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and the University of Virginia campus exemplified Enlightenment ideals in their classical proportions and rational layout
• Music and hymnody were transformed by the emotional and participatory style of the Great Awakening revivals
  • New hymns and spirituals, often set to popular melodies, expressed the intense religious fervor and personal devotion of the revivals
• Visual arts, such as painting and sculpture, began to depict more secular and nationalistic themes
  • Portraits of prominent Enlightenment figures and scenes from American history became popular subjects for artists
• The Enlightenment and Great Awakening helped to create a more vibrant and diverse cultural landscape in the colonies, laying the foundation for a distinctly American artistic tradition

Legacy and Long-Term Effects

• The Enlightenment and Great Awakening had far-reaching effects on American society and culture that continue to be felt today
• The Enlightenment ideals of reason, individual rights, and limited government became the bedrock of American political thought and institutions
  • The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights all reflect Enlightenment principles
  • The American system of checks and balances and the separation of powers is rooted in Enlightenment political theory
• The Great Awakening helped to shape the American religious landscape, contributing to the growth of evangelical Protestantism and the pluralism of American religious life
  • The revivals' emphasis on personal salvation and spiritual egalitarianism laid the groundwork for later reform movements, such as abolitionism and women's rights
• The Enlightenment and Great Awakening encouraged a spirit of innovation, self-reliance, and individualism that became defining characteristics of American culture
  • The idea of the "self-made man" and the American Dream of upward mobility and success through hard work and determination have their roots in this period
• The intellectual ferment of the Enlightenment and Great Awakening contributed to the development of American higher education and scientific research
  • Colleges like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were founded to train Enlightenment-minded clergy and leaders
  • The American Philosophical Society and other learned societies promoted scientific inquiry and the exchange of ideas
• The legacy of the Enlightenment and Great Awakening can be seen in ongoing debates over the role of religion in public life, the nature of individual rights and liberties, and the meaning of the American experiment in self-government
  • These debates continue to shape American politics, culture, and society to this day, as Americans grapple with the enduring questions and challenges posed by these transformative movements.