Colonial Experience, American IdentityI. The Age of ReasonA. Rational self-interestB. The English ConnectionSlide 5Slide 6C. ChurchesD. American perspectiveThe First Great AwakeningA. Revivals 1734-1775Slide 11B. CausesC. RevivalismSlide 14D. Cultural basis of RevolutionSlide 16Colonial Experience, American IdentityInterdependence ties together coloniesIntellectual/cultural changes erode European traditionsOpportunities add to sense of entitlementI. The Age of Reason“Enlightenment”Rational societyA. Rational self-interest1. Repulsed by Salem2. “Self-made” menLibertyB. The English Connection1. Isaac Newton1687 – Principia MathematicaNatural Law2. John Locke1689 – Essay Concerning Human Understanding“tabula rasa”1690 – Two Treatises on GovernmentContract Theory“Natural Rights” Life, Liberty, PropertyEnglish LiberalismC. Churches1. DeismHarvard theologians - “liberal” ProtestantismInnate evil?Innate authority?D. American perspective1. PragmatismBenjamin Franklin -active, confident, improving-Voluntary Associations-Self-education-Social improvementThe First Great AwakeningA. Revivals 1734-17751. Anglicans = George Whitfield Methodists = John Wesley Presbyterians = Gilbert Tennant2. Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, 1741- revive Calvinism God-centered universepredestinationAmerica cannot shirk its destiny- detested “money-grubbers” moral relativismB. Causes1. Economic frustration / competition“River Gods” 2. WomenC. Revivalism1. American-style Protestantismalways looking for converts2. Blends religion & politics1760s Connecticut: Old Lights v. New Lights3. Denominationalism: religious pluralism - end of state-supported churches - revivals split churches - breaks political power of churchesD. Cultural basis of Revolution1. Required no education: egalitarian2. Gave poorer, rural colonists commonexperience3. Experience was anti-authoritarian4. Gave colonists common enemySatan “Millennialism” King of France (Catholic)King of
View Full Document
Unlocking...