Enlightenment and Great Awakening
Discuss the impact of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening on colonial society in America.
The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were two significant intellectual and religious movements that shaped colonial American society in the 18th century. While the Enlightenment emphasized reason and science, the Great Awakening focused on religious revival and emotional spirituality. Together, they influenced political thought, social structures, and cultural identity in the colonies.
The Enlightenment: Reason and Intellectual Growth
The Enlightenment, a European intellectual movement, emphasized reason, logic, and scientific inquiry over tradition and religious dogma. Key figures like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Isaac Newton influenced colonial leaders and thinkers.
Political Impact:
- Locke’s theories on natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and government by consent inspired colonial resistance to British rule.
- Enlightenment ideas shaped the Declaration of Independence and later the U.S. Constitution.The Great Awakening: Religious Revival and Unity
The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s) was a religious revival movement led by preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. It emphasized personal faith, emotional sermons, and salvation for all, challenging established religious authority…
The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were two significant intellectual and religious movements that shaped colonial American society in the 18th century. While the Enlightenment emphasized reason and science, the Great Awakening focused on religious revival and emotional spirituality. Together, they influenced political thought, social structures, and cultural identity in the colonies.
The Enlightenment: Reason and Intellectual Growth
The Enlightenment, a European intellectual movement, emphasized reason, logic, and scientific inquiry over tradition and religious dogma. Key figures like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Isaac Newton influenced colonial leaders and thinkers.
Political Impact:
- Locke’s theories on natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and government by consent inspired colonial resistance to British rule.
- Enlightenment ideas shaped the Declaration of Independence and later the U.S. Constitution.The Great Awakening: Religious Revival and Unity
The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s) was a religious revival movement led by preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. It emphasized personal faith, emotional sermons, and salvation for all, challenging established religious authority…
