The Enlightenment and the First Great Awakening, and answer all prompts in the following discussion question.
Watch the video on the Enlightenment and the First Great Awakening, and answer all prompts in the following discussion question. Make sure to include relevant points in your answer, and make sure that your information is correctly cited.
Based on what you know about the Enlightenment, the Great Awakening, and the American Revolution, summarize the relationships between all three and explain your answer.
How was American society impacted by the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening?
We speak of “liberty” today. What in your own opinion do you believe the people were seeking when thinking of liberty in terms of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening? In other words, explain what liberty in terms of human rights and religious freedom mean to you and what you think it meant to eighteenth-century Americans.
Finally, we are speaking of concepts that are hundreds of years old. What value do you see them having today, if any?
Sample Solution
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Relationships between the Enlightenment, the Great Awakening, and the American Revolution:
- Enlightenment: This period in European history emphasized reason, evidence, and data to reach conclusions [00:28]. Key Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke challenged the status quo, especially the idea of divine right, and influenced the founding fathers [01:54].
- First Great Awakening: This was a period of religious revival in the 1730s and 40s, marked by increased religious fervor [02:26]. It's considered a shared American moment that fostered a sense of American identity [02:35]. The Great Awakening emphasized a personal relationship with God and challenged the authority of established churches [04:23].
- Relationships:
- Shared emphasis on challenging the status quo: Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening challenged traditional authority, whether political or religious [08:36].
Full Answer Section
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- Impact on American Identity: The Great Awakening is seen as a shared experience that contributed to a sense of American identity and uniqueness, setting the stage for a break from Britain [07:01].
- Precursor to the American Revolution: Some historians view the religious rebellion seen in the First Great Awakening as a foreshadowing of the political and military rebellion of the American Revolution [07:58]. The questioning of religious authority during the Great Awakening may have paved the way for questioning governmental authority [07:33].
- Influence of Enlightenment ideas: The emphasis on individual rights and the social contract, key concepts of the Enlightenment, influenced the colonists' thinking and contributed to their decision to seek independence [01:17].
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Impact of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening on American society:
- Challenging the Status Quo: Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening challenged traditional authority. The Enlightenment questioned divine right [02:05], while the Great Awakening led people to question religious and governmental authority [07:33].
- Shared American Identity: The Great Awakening is considered a shared American moment, fostering a sense of unity among the diverse colonies [02:26]. It contributed to the idea that America was unique [07:01].
- Emphasis on Individualism: The Great Awakening emphasized a personal relationship with God and the ability to interpret the Bible directly [04:23]. It also emphasized individual rights [07:10].
- Education: Both movements emphasized education [08:36]. The Great Awakening led to the establishment of new universities [06:50], and the Enlightenment's ideas were embraced by graduates of these institutions [07:42].
- Seeds of Rebellion: Some historians view the religious rebellion of the Great Awakening as a precursor to the American Revolution [07:58]. The Great Awakening also sowed seeds of separation from Great Britain [07:18].
- Changes in Religious Affiliation: The Great Awakening led to a decline in membership in established churches like the Puritans and Anglicans, while other denominations like Baptists and Methodists gained followers [06:35].
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Liberty in terms of human rights and religious freedom during the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening:
- Enlightenment: Philosophers like John Locke introduced the concept of natural rights, including "life, liberty, and property" [01:47]. This challenged the existing order, particularly the idea of the divine right of kings, and promoted the idea that individuals had inherent rights that governments could not infringe upon [02:05].
- Great Awakening: This religious revival emphasized a direct, personal relationship with God, suggesting that individuals could interpret the Bible themselves [04:23]. This challenged the authority of established churches and promoted individual autonomy in matters of faith. The Great Awakening is also seen as sanctifying the idea that America is different and emphasizing individual rights [07:01].
Both movements shared a common thread of challenging the status quo [08:36]. The Enlightenment did so through reason and the Great Awakening through emotional connection. They both emphasized education and ultimately contributed to a growing sense of individual liberty, which would later fuel the American Revolution [08:06].
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Value of these concepts today:
Both the Enlightenment and the First Great Awakening emphasized education and challenged the status quo, which remains very important [08:36].
- The Enlightenment: This period emphasized reason, evidence, and data to reach conclusions, developing the scientific method [00:28]. Its focus on individual rights and challenging established authority continues to resonate in modern political and social discourse [01:54].
- The First Great Awakening: This movement emphasized a deep, personal relationship with a higher power and the ability to interpret sacred texts directly [04:23]. Some historians view the religious rebellion during this time as a precursor to the American Revolution [07:58].
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