enlightenment + religious faith in british na

enlightenment ideas

universe is not random and is operated by laws

progress over tradition (social mobility)

logic and reasoning

deism

there is a god but he no longer intervenes in the universe

most enlightenment thinkers weren’t athiest

jefferson bible

jefferson (deist) cut out miraculous stories and created a gudie to ethical conduct

colonial religion

new england = very religious

middle colonies = moderate, religious tolerance

south = less religious bc lack of infrastructure and community

declension

less puritans had conversion experiences (experience with god)

effect of declension

less people qualified for full church membership

halfway covenant

people without conversion experience could attend church without full rights (voting)

the great awakeneing

religious revival thru na bc of declension

george whitefield

minister that led revival by giving sermons throughout the colonies

evangelical protestantism

ex george whitefield

people wanted to convert others

person revival/new birth steps

1. ignore your good deeds and accept you’re helpless without god

2. surrender to god

   1. new birth: accept exhilirating infusion from grace of god

who did great awakening appeal to

women slaves and slaves

colonial post offices

sent books + info across atlantic → enforces atlantic world

empire of reason/republic of letters

atlantic world of knowledge

universities + education

6 universities by 1763

for training ministers, some withs ecular ed

ex columbia and upenn were strictly secular

political ideals of enlightenment

govts need to have power limited

john locke

natural rights

consent fo governed

no divine right of kings

republican govt

john lock/jefferson and slavery

both owned slaves

both opposed it in theory but not in practice

how did enlightenment lead to racism

enlightenment → classification (esp by race)

enforces hierarchy

john locke and slavery

opposed slavery in theory btu also supported sanctity of property

influenced slave holders esp founding fathers

overall puritan govt

morality = enshrined in law

republic govt w/individual rights

social hierarchy (patriarchy, white supremacy, protestant supremacy)