Differences Between The Enlightenment And The Great Awakening

Colonial America experienced significant changes during the late seventeenth and early eighteen centuries. The most important changes included the development of cities to became the main ports, and Southern part of America was transformed to be a major contributor to colonial America’s economy. These changes resulted in the rise in population with thousands of immigrants coming in large numbers due to the growth and improvement of the agricultural estate. Following this period of economic boom, colonial America experienced two major revivals that had long-term effects on the nation with regards to religion, government, and human nature.

Regardless of a colony’s religious situation, whether they allowed complete freedom of worship or were occupied by strict religious laws, all thirteen colonies were affected by a movement called the Great Awakening. Generally, the Great Awakening is characterized by a fervent revival in religion practice. Although, this movement had a major impact on most aspects of colonial life, it is important to note the effect it had on religion and how that in turn affected the political life of the colonist. Because of The Great Awakening, many ministers lost authority the authority they held over because more people were taking to studying the Bible in their own homes. This idea would have larger implications for the future.

Due to revivals the United states in the 1790 's-1830 's changed religion throughout the whole country. Which created the Second Great Awakening , this transformation changed Americans religon. In the beginning of the Revolution the largest denomomations were Puritan churches aslo called Congregationalist. Anglicans were also included,and Quakers. Methodism and Baptists, were also becoming a fast-growing relgions in the nation.

The Central Ideas of the First Great Awakening The colonial American society witnessed innumerable revolutions and renewals during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The revolutions had different thematic focuses including protests against slavery and racial segregation among others. One of such revolutions was the Great Awakening, which involved the spiritual revival that swept the colonial American communities. In particular, the Great Awakening was intense in the New England colony during the first five decades of the 18th century.

The Great Awakening strived to erase the lines between religions by promoting religious pluralism and the concept that all faiths were equal. Primarily, the separation of Church and State was finally in place, which showed the opposition to allowing religion facilitate the decisions of their nation. The Awakening weakened the cultural authority of the upper class and produced a vision of a society drawn in more equal lines. Overall, the thought of finally being equal unified the colonies and created universities that were not controlled by the Church. The new universities promoted different types of curriculum which was not based on religion.

The Second Great Awakening positively affected American culture. It is known for their revivals and their religious turn around, as well as how the culture of American people changed. Revivals were these camp meetings that 100s-1000s of people attended. There was singing, preaching, emotions and conversions. The Second Great Awakening was about people changing their freedom.

According to definition, reinvention is to invent again, remodel, or revive something that already exists. Between the 16th and 19th centuries Americans has embraced the idea of reinvention through their determination to change the religion and government of their time. Since the development of the American Colonies, Americans, or in this case colonist, embraced the character of reinvention and applied it to religion. They took the ideas from Martin Luther’s 1517

A religious movement, that made religion more popular, between 1730 - 1740. Jonathon Edwards and George Whitefield were the two who set off the great awakening. Jonathon Edwards helped set off the Great Awakening because of in his “powerful” sermons, he would call on colonists, also young people, to examine their lives. He would preach of god’s sweetness and beauty, but at the same time he would warn the listeners to pay attention to the bibles teachings. Otherwise, they would be sinners.

The Great Awakening additionally inspired believers to follow their own beliefs despite what the church believes. Lastly, the Great Awakening challenged the right of civil authority to get involved in all matters of religion (7). Colonies were also created with religion in mind. For example, Maryland was created by Cecilius Calvert as a safe place for Catholics in 1634. Then in 1649, the Catholic leadership passed a religious toleration law.

On the other hand, the Second Great Awakening celebrated personal self-improvement and self-determination which swept the country. This religious revival was originally created by religious leaders who

Eighteenth-century Europe witnessed multiple actions taken upon religion. Revolts against, as well as in support of religion were contrasted simultaneously in a period of time, parallel to one-another. With these factors in motion, multiple individuals were subjected to a change in their lifestyle which, in that time, was greatly influenced by religion. In the later years of the eighteenth-century, the French Revolution arose, and the Roman Catholic Church was greatly challenged. Moreover, Enlightened thinkers greatly criticized religion as it would impede progression and innovation, particularly the sciences and new ideas.

The First and Second Great Awakening brought forth religious and social movements that impacted the American culture, appealing to the individual. Occurring in the early 18th century, the First Great Awakening was born within the 13 British Colonies with the Revolutionary War on the horizon. Decades later, the Second Great Awakening flourished under revivals and reforms, impacting the 19th century and years to follow. Despite being born out of different climates, The First and Second Great Awakening was characterized by the rejection of rational thinking for emotional preaching that reached the heart and soul, inspiring change in the negative perception of reason and positive perception of emotion and individualism in religion as well as the

The Second Great Awakening’s Impact on Abolitionism in the North The Second Great Awakening during the late 18th and 19th centuries sparked many reform movements in the United States. The new enlightenment age fostered scientific thought that often challenged traditional Christian practices. Principles of “Deism” and “Unitarianism” were religious philosophies that focused on free will, reason, and science.

The Great Awakening caused the colonies to question the old religious hierarchy is not all that powerful. The Enlightenment was the uprising in reason and science. Great Awakening affected the colonies by changing people’s perspective of religion. It altered people’s idea that religion was important in their life. The Enlightenment affected the people is that they should be governed by reason and not tradition.

People involved with the transcendentalism reformed America through the spread of this new idea. The idea of self-reliance and individualism led to people living out on their own out and discovering how to survive, a change in society. America’s reformation during the period surrounding the Second Great Awakening involved the temperance movement, abolitionists, and