Unit 5-8 Readings

Learning Objectives

• Explain the significance of the Great Awakening

• Describe the genesis, central ideas, and effects of the Enlightenment in British North America

The Great Awakening

Overview

• An eighteenth-century outburst of Protestant revivalism in the British Atlantic. Emphasized emotional religiosity over formal worship practices, leading to a surge in religious fervor across various communities.

• Various Protestant denominations involved included Congregationalists, Anglicans, and Presbyterians, showcasing a widespread desire for spiritual renewal across different social strata, breaking away from the constrained religious practices of the time.

Key Features

• Rejection of Predestination: Challenged traditional Protestant doctrine, advocating for the belief in individual agency and personal salvation, encouraging believers to assert their own spiritual journey.

• Emphasis on Personal Faith: Inspired a shift toward seeking personal, experiential faith and salvation through direct acceptance of Christ; democratized religious experiences, allowing for a broader participation beyond clergy-led worship.

• Inclusivity: Attracted diverse groups, including women, youth, and lower social classes, many of whom felt marginalized in established institutional religions, thereby creating a more inclusive religious community.

Divisions Created

• Established a split between "New Lights" (evangelical revivalism followers) and "Old Lights" (traditionalist resistors). Old Lights feared revivalism undermined established church authority and criticized it as chaotic and overly emotional.

• The extreme actions during the incident involving James Davenport underscored tensions within the movement but also contributed to its dynamic growth, sparking further debates on the nature of faith and authority within the church.

Influential Figures

• Theodorus Frelinghuysen: A Dutch Reformed minister whose revivals in New Jersey emphasized heartfelt emotionalism, effectively mobilizing communities to engage in personal spirituality.

• Gilbert Tennent: A Presbyterian minister who championed a more evangelical ministry, advocating that clergy adopt revivalist practices that encouraged congregational participation in emotional worship.

• Jonathan Edwards: Known for his vivid and intense sermons, particularly "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," used dramatic imagery to evoke emotional responses, thus appealing deeply to individual fears and aspirations for salvation.

• George Whitefield: A charismatic Anglican minister celebrated for his exceptional skills as an orator. He traveled extensively, energizing audiences and spreading revivalist sentiments, which played a crucial role in unifying disparate colonial communities around shared religious experiences.

Impact of the Great Awakening

• Resulted in the emergence of new Protestant denominations such as Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists, which offered congregants distinct religious choices reflecting personal beliefs and community preferences.

• Led to older Protestant denominations like Anglicans and Congregationalists facing declining influence, as their rigid structures struggled to attract new followers in the wake of revivalist fervor.

• Fostered a shared sense of unity and identity among diverse colonies across the British Empire, encouraging discussions about individual rights and freedoms that would resonate in later revolutionary movements.

The Enlightenment

Overview

• An intellectual and cultural movement emphasizing reason, science, and human experience over superstition and traditional authority that flourished in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Influential thinkers included John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Voltaire, introducing transformative ideas that gained traction in both Europe and the Americas.

Core Ideas

• Rationalism: Promoted the idea that knowledge is primarily derived from reason rather than solely relying on scripture or tradition, forming the basis of modern philosophical thought.

• Empiricism: Highlighted that knowledge arises from sensory experiences and observation, crucial for scientific inquiry's development.

• Progressivism: Advocated belief in the potential for human advancement through reason and rational thought, leading to societal improvements and reforms.

• Cosmopolitanism: Encouraged openness to new ideas, cultures, and philosophical inquiries, aiding in the spread of diverse rational thoughts across European and American societies.

Cultural Impact

• Freemasonry: Emerged as a society fostering inquiry and moral improvement, providing a platform for enlightenment thinkers to congregate and share ideas.

• Benjamin Franklin: Integral figure in Enlightenment thought in British America; advocated for deism emphasizing morality and ethical living over strict dogma. He established significant public institutions promoting education and civic responsibility and engaged in experimental work in electricity, fostering practical advancements for society.

The Founding of Georgia

Foundation

• Founded by James Oglethorpe in 1732 as a reform for debtors, aiming to provide a fresh start for England's "worthy poor." It was envisioned as an agrarian model promoting industriousness without the distractions of alcohol and slavery.

Realities

• Oglethorpe's idealism faced contradictions as many settlers ignored restrictions on alcohol and slavery, leading to tensions within the colony as economic pressures grew.

• By the 1750s, the economy of Georgia shifted dramatically as slavery became integral to its agricultural output, particularly in the rice industry, undermining the colony's original ideals.

The Boston Massacre

Background

• Occurred on March 5, 1770, against a backdrop of growing tensions during post-Seven Years War taxation strategies. Colonists increasingly protested the presence of British troops, and confrontations escalated amidst rising anger.

Incident Description

• British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators, leading to five deaths and numerous injuries – intensifying the hostility towards British rule.

Aftermath

• Samuel Adams led a funeral procession for the deceased, which played a significant role in shaping public opinion and amplifying anti-British sentiment. The Boston Massacre became a galvanizing symbol for uprising and resistance against British oppression.

Declaration of Independence (Excerpt)

Preamble

• Asserted the necessity of severing political ties with Great Britain, framing it as a moral obligation for the colonies, and introducing the concept of unalienable rights including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness as foundational principles.

Accusations Against King George III

• Detailed grievances, including the king's refusal to enact laws, obstruction of legislative processes, and maintenance of standing armies in peacetime without consent, fueling aspirations for independence among the colonies.

Colony appeals

• In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people

Closing Statements

• Declared the colonies as free and independent states, renouncing allegiance to the British Crown, and included a mutual pledge among signers to support one another in the newly established governance structure.

Abigail & John Adams’ Letters

Abigail Adams to John Adams (March 31, 1776)

• Advocated proactively for women's inclusion in new laws, emphasizing the importance of gender equality, suggesting early seeds of feminist thought during the period.

John Adams’ Response (April 14, 1776)

• Responded humorously, reflecting conventional views of gender roles, and expressed skepticism towards immediate transformative changes in power dynamics within government foundations.

Abigail's Follow-up (May 7, 1776)

• Criticized John's reluctance to reconsider existing inequalities in marriage and applicable societal structures; urged for a broader interpretation of liberty that formally recognized women’s rights in the revolutionary context.