The Enlightenment and the great Awakening

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 18th century emphasizing reason, logic, and the separation of knowledge from religion.

Core Beliefs of the Enlightenment

Emphasis on reason over tradition, understanding natural laws, and questioning religious explanations.

View of Humanity during the Enlightenment

Belief in human progress achievable through education and freedom of thought.

Key Idea: Reason > Tradition

The Enlightenment stressed the importance of reason and logic over traditional beliefs.

Separation of Religion from Science

The Enlightenment promoted the idea that religion should not interfere with scientific exploration.

Spread of Enlightenment Ideas

Ideas spread from Europe to America, influencing educated colonists.

John Locke

British philosopher who emphasized natural rights, government by consent, and the importance of education.

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property as fundamental rights that governments should protect.

Isaac Newton

A key figure whose work in science reinforced Enlightenment beliefs in reason and natural laws.

Heliocentric Model

Copernicus's theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun, challenging church-supported views.

Benjamin Franklin

Colonial figure embodying Enlightenment ideals, advocating for education and scientific inquiry.

Deism

Belief that God created the universe but does not intervene, emphasizing reason and observation.

Great Awakening

A Protestant religious revival in the 1720s-1730s emphasizing personal faith and emotional conversion.

Contrast: Enlightenment vs. Great Awakening

Enlightenment focused on reason while the Great Awakening stressed emotion.

Jonathan Edwards

Evangelical preacher known for emphasizing human sinfulness and need for salvation through grace.

George Whitefield

Charismatic revivalist whose dramatic preaching style enhanced the Great Awakening.

Old Lights

Traditionalists who opposed the Great Awakening, favoring established worship practices.

New Lights

Supporters of the Great Awakening who embraced emotional preaching and personal conversion.

Education in the Colonies

Higher literacy rates in New England facilitated the spread of Enlightenment ideas.

Impact of the Great Awakening on Women

Expanded women's roles in church and allowed them to participate in meetings.

Impact on African Americans

Both free and enslaved African Americans converted to Protestant Christianity during the Great Awakening.

Impact on American Indians

Some American Indians converted, but faced ongoing discrimination.

Literacy Rates in 18th Century New England

Higher than in England, aiding in the dissemination of Enlightenment thought.

Role of Education in Enlightenment

Education was key for logical reasoning and critical thinking in colonial America.

Enlightenment Thinkers

Challenged traditional authority and promoted intellectual independence.

Philosophy of Reason

Reason as a method to improve government, society, and moral life.

Voltaire

French Enlightenment thinker who advocated for freedom of speech and separation of church and state.

Rationalism

Philosophy emphasizing reason as the primary source of knowledge.

Empiricism

Philosophy supporting knowledge through sensory experience and evidence.

Civic Responsibility

Emphasis on the duty of citizens to engage and improve society.

Religious Tolerance

Openness to different religious beliefs encouraged during the Enlightenment.

Social Contract Theory

The idea that government legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.

Impact on American Revolution

Enlightenment ideas influenced colonial resistance to British authority.

Enlightenment and Democracy

Promoted ideas of individual rights and governmental representation.

Religious Dogma

Rigid adherence to prescribed religious beliefs challenged by Enlightenment thinkers.

Scientific Method

Systematic observation and experimentation advocated by Enlightenment philosophers.

Political Philosophy of the Enlightenment

Emphasized government based on consent and natural rights.

Humanism

An outlook focusing on human values and concerns rather than religious beliefs.

The Royal Society

An institution promoting scientific thought, experimentation, and rational inquiry.

Thomas Hobbes

Political philosopher known for his work on social contract theory.

Civic Engagement

Participation in the political process, encouraged as an Enlightenment value.

Resilience of Enlightenment Values

Continued influence of Enlightenment principles in modern democratic societies.

Intellectual Exchange

The sharing of ideas between European and American thinkers.

Religious Revivalism

The movement reviving personal faith and emotional involvement in religion.

Rational Religion

A belief system based on logic and reason instead of blind faith.

Moral Behavior

Conduct that aligns with ethical principles, highlighted in Deism.

Charles Chauncy

Old Light leader who opposed the emotional excesses of the New Lights.

Gilbert Tennent

New Light preacher advocating for emotional expressions in worship.

Impact on Colonial Society

The Great Awakening contributed to greater social mobility and plurality.

Colleges Founded during the Great Awakening

Institutions like Princeton and Brown emerged to address religious education needs.

Penance,

The act of expressing remorse for sins, emphasized during the Great Awakening.

Emotional Conversion

Personal transformative experience emphasized in the Great Awakening.

Social Hierarchy

Established order challenged by the inclusive nature of the Great Awakening.

Religious Pluralism

Diverse religious beliefs coexisting, encouraged by both movements.

Self-Improvement

A key value promoted by Enlightenment thinking.

Salvation through Faith

Belief that personal faith leads to salvation, strongly emphasized during the Great Awakening.

Intellectual Independence

Valuing personal reasoning separated from authoritative teachings.

Faith vs. Reason

Elevated tension between personal beliefs and rational explanations.

Spiritual Void

Feeling of lack in spiritual fulfillment that led to the Great Awakening's rise.

Benjamin Franklin’s Contributions

Known for scientific inquiry and advocating for rational thought and civic responsibility.

Normalizing Emotional Expressions in Religion

The Great Awakening encouraged emotional engagement in spiritual practices.

Literacy as a Tool

Reading and writing as means to foster Enlightenment ideas and critical thinking.

Philosophical Inquiry

The process of examining fundamental questions about existence and knowledge.

Historical Impact on Education

The Enlightenment led to greater educational reforms and literacy initiatives in America.

Origins of Protestantism

Emerging during the Reformation, leading to various sects influencing American religious life.

Aftermath of Great Awakening

Continued advocacy for individual spirituality and the questioning of traditional authorities.

Challenging Social Norms

Both Enlightenment and Great Awakening encouraged questioning established societal standards.

Significance of Education in Societies

Education upheld as essential to addressing societal needs and creating informed citizens.

Legacy of the Enlightenment

Philosophical foundations that shaped modern political systems and civic life.

Ebenezer Pemberton

Old Light leader critical of emotionalism, advocating for rational religious practices.

Civic Responsibility in the Enlightenment

Emphasis placed on active participation in governance by informed citizens.

Role of Women in the Great Awakening

Women took on larger roles within religious movements, participating in church leadership.

Connection between Thought and Action

The Enlightenment bridged ideas of thought leading to civic actions and improvements.

Prominent Enlightenment Poets

Writers who reflected Enlightenment themes in their poetry.

Impact on Colonial Identity

The interplay between Enlightenment values and Great Awakening led to a unique American identity.

Universal Rights Envisioned

Ideals developed that aspire for equal rights for all people post-Enlightenment.

Role of Scientific Inquiry

Questioning of established knowledge parameters through observation and experimentation.

Diests and the Sciences

Advocated for rational approaches to understanding God’s creation.

Liberal Education

Education system promoting well-rounded development in Enlightenment ideals.

Rational Explanations for Natural Phenomena

Ascribed to scientific inquiry facilitating progress in the Enlightenment.

Emotional Engagement in Religion

A hallmark of the Great Awakening that engaged a broader audience.

Cultural Exchange Between Europe and America

Communication of Enlightenment ideas shaped transatlantic thought.

Historical Context of the American Revolution

Enlightenment ideas influenced revolutionary sentiments and calls for independence.

Separation of Church and State

Proposed idea that religion should not dictate government policies.