enlightenment and great awakening
Impacts of the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment on Provincial America
Although the ideas and concepts of life during the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment periods proved to be drastically different, both proved to be influential and shaped America. The Great Awakening was a revival of religion and the Enlightenment was all about understanding science and social structure. The Great Awakening occurred from the 1730’s to the 1740’s. Mainly, the cause of the Great Awakening was a decline on people’s beliefs in religion. The second generation of puritans were more likely to be disconnected to the church then the first generation of English Puritans. In 1662, a group known as the Halfway Covenant helped in trying to convert people back to their old religious ways. After they converted babies could be baptized. Soon after, 2 men by the names of Charles and John Wesley began a reform movement. These men had been the founders of Methodism. Their reform movement, within the Church of England, was mostly to reinstate the importance of religion and religious beliefs. Also, with their reform, John and Charles Wesley were converting Native Americans and Africans. Puritan ministers during the Great Awakening preached many powerful sermons. Johnathan Edwards, who was known for his Jeremiads, preached of hell, saying once “Sinners in the hand of an angry God.” After the Wesley’s passed, George Whitefield took over as leader of Methodists in Oxford, England. Presbyterians soon became divided to two separate, but equally important groups: the New Lights and the Old Lights. Presbyterians who were revivalists were known as the New Lights whereas those Presbyterians who were traditionalists were known as the Old Lights. Ultimately religious tolerance grew and more churches were built. Soon, the first college, Harvard, was established to train and teach ministers of the New Light. The Great Awakening revived religious practices in America and ended up establishing the
Although the ideas and concepts of life during the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment periods proved to be drastically different, both proved to be influential and shaped America. The Great Awakening was a revival of religion and the Enlightenment was all about understanding science and social structure. The Great Awakening occurred from the 1730’s to the 1740’s. Mainly, the cause of the Great Awakening was a decline on people’s beliefs in religion. The second generation of puritans were more likely to be disconnected to the church then the first generation of English Puritans. In 1662, a group known as the Halfway Covenant helped in trying to convert people back to their old religious ways. After they converted babies could be baptized. Soon after, 2 men by the names of Charles and John Wesley began a reform movement. These men had been the founders of Methodism. Their reform movement, within the Church of England, was mostly to reinstate the importance of religion and religious beliefs. Also, with their reform, John and Charles Wesley were converting Native Americans and Africans. Puritan ministers during the Great Awakening preached many powerful sermons. Johnathan Edwards, who was known for his Jeremiads, preached of hell, saying once “Sinners in the hand of an angry God.” After the Wesley’s passed, George Whitefield took over as leader of Methodists in Oxford, England. Presbyterians soon became divided to two separate, but equally important groups: the New Lights and the Old Lights. Presbyterians who were revivalists were known as the New Lights whereas those Presbyterians who were traditionalists were known as the Old Lights. Ultimately religious tolerance grew and more churches were built. Soon, the first college, Harvard, was established to train and teach ministers of the New Light. The Great Awakening revived religious practices in America and ended up establishing the