#2 The Enlightenment and Great Awakening in America

Summary

This video explores the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening, two pivotal movements that shaped the American mindset and ultimately led to independence from Great Britain. The Enlightenment, originating in Europe, challenged traditional views and promoted reason and science, influencing figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The Great Awakening revitalized religious interest with emotional sermons, leading to new denominations and a push for higher education. Both movements questioned authority, laying the groundwork for the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, which emphasized natural rights and the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect them.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The Enlightenment was a European movement that began in the 1700s, emphasizing reason and challenging traditional views on various subjects like human nature, government, and law.
• 📚 Enlightenment ideas spread to America through settlers, particularly the Puritans, who stressed literacy and public education, facilitating the sharing and discussion of these ideas.
• 👤 Key figures of the American Enlightenment, like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, promoted scientific experimentation and the concept of natural rights, which influenced the Declaration of Independence.
• 🔥 The Great Awakening was a religious movement that occurred concurrently with the Enlightenment, characterized by emotional sermons and a new interest in religion, leading to large-scale revivals.
• 💬 Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening inspired questioning of authority, with the former focusing on reason and the latter on personal religious experience.
• 🏛 The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening contributed to the formation of new Christian denominations and the establishment of higher education institutions like Princeton and Dartmouth.
• 📖 'Common Sense,' a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, argued for American independence from Britain, asserting that the colonies could form a more equal society without British rule.
• 🏛 The Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, was influenced by Enlightenment ideas and declared the colonies' independence from Britain, citing violations of natural rights.
• 📜 The phrase 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' in the Declaration of Independence was adapted from John Locke's idea of natural rights, reflecting the Enlightenment's emphasis on individual rights.
• 🤔 The Declaration of Independence also asserted that if a government does not protect these rights, the people have the right to overthrow it and establish a new government.
• 🇺🇸 The Declaration of Independence marked the birth of the United States as an independent nation, with its principles deeply rooted in the Enlightenment and the spirit of the Great Awakening.

Q & A

What were the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening, and how did they influence the American colonies?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in 18th-century Europe that challenged traditional views and emphasized reason, science, and individual rights. The Great Awakening was a religious revival that occurred in the American colonies during the same period, focusing on emotional religious experiences. Both movements played significant roles in shaping the American mind, leading to a questioning of authority and eventually contributing to the American Revolution and the colonies' quest for independence from Great Britain.

How did the Enlightenment ideas spread to America?

Enlightenment ideas spread to America primarily through settlers and colonists, especially the Puritans, who emphasized literacy and public education. The ideas were often found in books that were brought over from Europe, shared, and discussed among the colonists. Influential Americans like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson also helped popularize these ideas through their writings and actions.

What was the role of Benjamin Franklin in the Enlightenment in America?

Benjamin Franklin was a prominent figure of the Enlightenment in America. He was known for promoting the use of scientific experimentation and reason to answer common questions about the world, which was in line with the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical knowledge and rational thought.

What was Thomas Jefferson's contribution to the Enlightenment in America?

Thomas Jefferson was a key figure of the Enlightenment in America. He argued for the concept of natural rights, which the government must respect and protect. His beliefs influenced the Declaration of Independence, which incorporated Enlightenment ideals.

Who was Jonathan Edwards, and how did he contribute to the Great Awakening?

Jonathan Edwards was a famous clergyman during the Great Awakening. He became well-known for his intense and emotional sermons, which sparked a renewed interest in religion among the colonists in the 1730s and 1740s.

What were the effects of the Great Awakening on religious life in the American colonies?

The Great Awakening led to the formation of new Christian denominations, such as Methodists and Baptists, which challenged the authority of the Church of England. It also increased interest in higher education, leading to the establishment of colleges like Princeton and Dartmouth.

How did the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening differ in their approach to understanding the world and religion?

The Enlightenment emphasized reason and thought processes, encouraging individuals to question and understand the world through observation and rational analysis. In contrast, the Great Awakening focused on emotional expression and personal religious experiences, with less emphasis on rational inquiry.

What was the significance of the pamphlet 'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine?

The pamphlet 'Common Sense' was significant because it argued for the independence of the American colonies from Britain. It was one of the best-selling documents of its time and greatly influenced the members of the Second Continental Congress, who were deciding on the issue of independence.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence, and what was its purpose?

The Declaration of Independence was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, with contributions from other members of the Second Continental Congress, including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Its purpose was to explain and justify the colonies' decision to declare independence from Great Britain, based on Enlightenment ideals and the belief in natural rights.

What is the meaning of 'unalienable rights' as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence?

Unalienable rights, as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, refer to rights that are inherent to all individuals by virtue of their humanity, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are considered to be fundamental and cannot be taken away or transferred.

How did the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening contribute to the American Revolution?

Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening contributed to the American Revolution by challenging the authority of the English church, government, and king. They inspired colonists to question British control over their lives and to consider the possibility of forming their own country, which was a key factor leading to the Revolution.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Enlightenment and Great Awakening in America

This paragraph introduces the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening as significant movements that influenced the American mindset and ultimately led to the colonies' independence from Great Britain. The Enlightenment, originating in Europe, challenged traditional views and promoted the idea that the world operates on natural laws, not luck or miracles. Influential figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson played a role in popularizing these ideas in America. The Great Awakening, occurring concurrently, saw a surge in religious fervor and the emergence of new clergymen known for their passionate sermons, leading to large-scale religious meetings called revivals. Both movements contributed to the questioning of authority and the rise of individualism.

05:01

📚 Impact of Enlightenment and Great Awakening on Education and Religion

The second paragraph delves into the impact of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening on education and religion in the American colonies. The Enlightenment encouraged the use of reason and observation to understand oneself and the world, while the Great Awakening emphasized emotional and instinctual connections with spirituality. Both movements inspired a questioning of authority, with the Enlightenment advocating for individual reason over accepted truths and the Great Awakening challenging the necessity of church authorities for a personal relationship with God. The Great Awakening led to the formation of new Christian denominations and an increased interest in higher education, resulting in the establishment of colleges like Princeton and Dartmouth.

10:02

🏛 The American Revolution and the Birth of the United States

The final paragraph discusses the American Revolution and the creation of the United States, highlighting the role of Enlightenment ideas and the Great Awakening in shaping the political landscape. It mentions 'Common Sense,' a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, which argued for the colonies' independence from Britain and the formation of a new, more equal society. The Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson and influenced by John Locke's philosophy, is presented as the document that articulated the colonies' reasons for seeking independence, emphasizing natural rights and the right of the people to overthrow a government that fails to protect them. The paragraph concludes with a note on the Declaration's assertion of 'all men are created equal,' a statement that has evolved in interpretation over time.

Keywords

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It emphasized reason, individualism, and the scientific method as the primary means of understanding the world. In the context of the video, the Enlightenment influenced American colonists, leading to new ideas about governance and human rights, which eventually contributed to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. The video mentions that the Enlightenment challenged traditional views and promoted the idea that the world is governed by natural laws, not miracles or luck.

💡Great Awakening

The Great Awakening refers to a series of religious revivals that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century. It was characterized by intense emotional sermons and a renewed interest in religion, often led by itinerant preachers. The video explains that as Enlightenment ideas spread and religious influence decreased, the Great Awakening brought a resurgence of religious fervor, leading to large religious meetings called 'revivals' and the formation of new Christian denominations such as Methodists and Baptists.

💡Natural Rights

Natural rights are the rights that individuals possess inherently, simply by virtue of being human. The video discusses how Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, argued that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. These ideas were influential in the American colonies and were incorporated into the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The concept of natural rights is central to the video's narrative of the American quest for independence and self-governance.

💡Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is a document that was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies' independence from Britain. The video highlights that this document was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson and was influenced by Enlightenment ideas. It lists grievances against the British Crown and asserts that all men are created equal, with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence is a pivotal document in American history and a direct outcome of the intellectual currents discussed in the video.

💡Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. The video describes him as a well-known figure of the Enlightenment in America, who argued for natural rights and the necessity of governments to respect and protect these rights. His ideas and writings were instrumental in shaping the American Revolution and the founding principles of the United States.

💡Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a leading figure in the American Enlightenment and a polymath whose interests and skills spanned across various fields, including science, writing, and politics. The video mentions Franklin as someone who popularized the use of scientific experimentation and reason to understand the world, contributing to the spread of Enlightenment ideas in America. His influence can be seen in the emphasis on empirical observation and rational thought that characterized the period.

💡Common Sense

Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776, advocating American independence from British rule. The video describes it as a short but influential document that argued for the colonies' ability to govern themselves and the tyranny of British rule. It was widely read and helped to sway public opinion in favor of independence, influencing the members of the Second Continental Congress who were deciding on the issue of independence.

💡Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that met in Philadelphia in 1775 and 1776. The video explains that this assembly was responsible for drafting and adopting the Declaration of Independence. It was composed of representatives who debated and decided on the colonies' response to British rule, ultimately voting for independence and authoring the foundational document that announced this decision.

💡Puritans

Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England from remnants of Roman Catholic practices. The video notes that Puritans in America emphasized literacy and public education, which inadvertently facilitated the spread of Enlightenment ideas as books and texts were shared and discussed among the colonists. Their focus on reading and interpreting religious texts laid the groundwork for the intellectual curiosity and critical thinking that characterized the Enlightenment period.

💡Unalienable Rights

Unalienable rights, as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, refer to rights that are inherent and cannot be taken away, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The video explains that these rights are considered to be self-evident and require no external validation or justification. The concept of unalienable rights is central to the Enlightenment idea that individuals have inherent freedoms that governments must respect and protect.

Highlights

The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were significant movements that influenced the American mind and contributed to the colonies' independence from Great Britain.

The Enlightenment originated in 18th century Europe, challenging traditional views and promoting new ideas about human nature, government, law, and religion.

Enlightenment thinkers believed in natural laws governing the world, such as gravity, rather than luck or miracles.

The spread of Enlightenment ideas in America was facilitated by settlers, particularly the Puritans, who emphasized literacy and public education.

Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were key figures of the Enlightenment in America, promoting scientific experimentation and the concept of natural rights.

The Great Awakening was a religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s, featuring emotional sermons by clergymen like Jonathan Edwards.

Revivals attracted a diverse crowd, including men, women, and slaves, reflecting a widespread interest in new religious ideas.

The Great Awakening led to the formation of new Christian denominations, challenging the authority of the Church of England and traditional Puritan views.

The movement also increased interest in higher education, leading to the establishment of colleges like Princeton and Dartmouth.

Enlightenment and the Great Awakening both inspired questioning of authority and emphasized the importance of the individual.

Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense' argued for American independence from Britain, influencing the Second Continental Congress.

The Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, was influenced by Enlightenment ideas and declared the colonies' separation from Britain.

Jefferson's famous phrase 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' was adapted from John Locke's idea of natural rights.

The Declaration of Independence asserted that governments can be overthrown if they fail to protect citizens' rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Controversy surrounds the interpretation of 'all men are created equal,' with modern interpretations differing from Jefferson's original intent.

The Declaration of Independence listed grievances against the English king and Parliament, asserting violations of unalienable rights.

The document's creation marked the birth of the independent United States of America.

Transcripts

hey there folks welcome to video number

2 this time we're gonna take a quick

look at the Enlightenment in America

along with the Great Awakening two

movements that play big roles in

changing the American mind it would help

eventually lead the American colonies to

become their own country and declare

their independence from Great Britain so

what was the Enlightenment well it did

not start in North America it actually

started and was already a movement a

process that was going on in the 1700s

in Europe and what it was was a

challenging of the traditional views

about the world and mankind humankind

you had scientists and philosophers who

are expressing new ideas or were

revisiting old ideas about everything

from human nature and government and law

about religion and many other topics and

they drew these ideas from their own

experiences they drew them from texts

and philosophers from Africa from the

Middle East and from Asia and they

really began to publicize a lot of these

ideas they said things like the world

was governed by natural laws like the

law of gravity you may be familiar with

that one and that these actually

controlled our day to day world not luck

and not miracles there was actually

science behind the world that was around

us and even science within us so the

Enlightenment made its way to America

how well because of all the settlers the

colonists who were coming over from

places like England to North America the

Puritans in particular really stressed

literacy and public education now this

was in order to read the Bible but this

actually helped with the spread of

Enlightenment ideas because a lot of

these ideas were in book form and so

these books would come over to the

colonies and be shared by the colonists

and discussed by the colonists you had

Americans like Benjamin Franklin who

popularized using experiment

experimentation scientific experiments

and reason to find the answers to common

questions about the world Thomas

Jefferson also was a

well-known figure of the Enlightenment

in America he argued that people have

natural rights the government's must

respect and protect and some of these

beliefs would become part of the

Declaration of Independence which we'll

talk more about in just a few minutes

here's a well-known portrait of Benjamin

Franklin what a must well known this was

the basis for his portrait on the

hundred dollar bill and this is the

image of Thomas Jefferson that was made

when he was the president he actually

ended up being the third President of

the United States so the Great Awakening

was going on as well around this time

so as Enlightenment ideas spread in the

colonies religious influence decreased

however we had this wave of new

clergymen pastors reverends and

ministers one of the most famous being

Jonathan Edwards who became very famous

for their intense and emotional sermons

and this led to new interest in religion

in the 1730's and the 1740s in fact

there was so much interest that large

religious meetings that were called

revivals were held so these would be

held outside of churches and taverns and

meetinghouses rooms that were big enough

for a wide range of Americans to attend

you had not just men but women slaves

people from all walks of life all

economic classes who were interested in

hearing these sermons and hearing these

new ideas about religion and here's a

painting that tries to capture what one

of these meetings would have been like

where you have the pastor standing up on

the chair and you know she have a very

mixed crowd you have people discussing

what he's talking about you have men and

women and looking at their clothes you

can see they come from all walks of life

rich and poor and middle class listening

to this pastor so the what Great

Awakening had some other impacts on the

colonies first of all you had new

Christian denominations or new groups

that were formed such as Methodists and

Baptists which he may have heard of

these groups in a way challenged the

authority of the Church of England the

official Church of England that was

headed by the king of England and they

also challenged old Puritan views like

the Puritans who had settled

in Plymouth this increased interest in

higher education as well you remember

the Puritans wanted to be able to read

the Bible so they can interpret the Word

of God for themselves and share those

ideas with themselves or at least

understand what their preachers were

saying but this would lead to many

colleges like Princeton being opened and

these colleges were created to Train

ministers or you eyed colleges like

Dartmouth which were opened to educate

Native Americans and in a way to

Christianize them here's a picture of

Princeton today if you ever have a

chance to go up to New Jersey visit

Princeton this is what you'll see and

again

the college was originally founded to

Train ministers but of course now it

offers a wide range of courses and

majors there so let's take a look at the

Enlightenment verse the Great Awakening

how are they similar how are they

different so the Enlightenment

emphasized reason thought processes what

do you know about yourself what do you

observe well the Great Awakening

emphasized a more emotional expression

what does your heart say what do you

feel in your gut your instinct and

things like that what does what does God

the Holy Spirit say to you and how do

you express that both inspired the

questioning of authority and they

stressed the importance of the

individual so the Enlightenment

emphasized using reason to understand

yourself don't just take what anybody

tells you about yourself what do you

think about yourself what do you think

about yourself based on the world around

you and the Great Awakening challenged

church authority because it basically

said that church authorities are not

essential for you to understand God you

can develop your own relationship with

God you can read the Bible you can pray

you can think about that without having

somebody else do that for you and this

would inspire colonists to question the

British control of their lives these

ideas challenging the authority of the

English church challenging the authority

of Parliament the king the English

government these were ideas that would

help lead to the American Revolution

through pamphlets like common sense

which we'll talk more about in just a

second

as well as the Declaration of

Independence which made clear some of

the ideas that would lead to the

American Revolution so let's talk about

common sense the pamphlet which was

written by this guy Thomas Paine this is

a portrait of him Thomas Paine was

actually born in in Great Britain but

made his way to the American colonies he

was actually Scottish and he argued in

this pamphlet which is a very short book

he argued that the American colonies did

not need Britain that they could form

their own country and in fact would be

better off on their own Britain

according to Paine was abusing its power

was abusing its control of the American

colonies and was tyrannical there like a

dictator very cruel dictator and

oppressed the Americans and the colonies

but America America separate from Great

Britain could create a more equal

society and economy than they ever could

with Great Britain in charge so these

were all ideas that challenged the

authority the power of the British

government on American society on the

American colonies and on their economy

now this was a very short pamphlet it

was published in 1776 but it was very

popular it was one of the best-selling

books best-selling documents of all time

and more importantly it was read by many

members of the Second Continental

Congress and these were the men who at

the time were deciding whether or not to

declare independence from Great Britain

many of them read it and when they got

together they ultimately decided to vote

for independence and they came up with

this document the Declaration of

Independence there it is in fact it's

right down the street from us at the

archives if you ever catch the 70 or 79

to the end you can go and see the

Declaration of Independence yourself the

original handwritten version this is a

typed version that came out later so

Declaration of Independence was mainly

written by this guy Thomas Jefferson who

was also joined by folks like Benjamin

Franklin as well as John Adams who would

be the second president

and other members of the Second World

Congress so he actually wrote it

Jefferson and his colleagues began

writing in while the Second Continental

Congress was still debating whether or

not to separate from Britain so this was

just written as a possibility in case

the American colonies declared their

independence and the reason was to

explain why the colonies were declaring

their independence they didn't just want

to say we're done we're through they

actually wanted to give a reason why

they were declaring their independence

from Great Britain and there it was

based on many Enlightenment ideas like

the ideas of John Locke who was an

English philosopher John Locke had

previously written that people have

natural rights to life liberty and

property and this directly influenced

one line in the Declaration of

Independence the Jefferson wrote where

he changed Locke's original idea to life

liberty and the pursuit of happiness and

that's a phrase you may be familiar with

that is an Enlightenment idea the

Declaration of Independence also argued

another Enlightenment idea that if

government does not protect those rights

those rights to life liberty the pursuit

of happiness then the people that are

being ruled by the government can

overthrow that government and create a

new one that does Jefferson also

declared in the declaration that all men

are created equal now this is a

statement that has created a lot of

controversy the way we interpret it now

is very different than what Jefferson

originally meant Jefferson originally

meant that all free citizens are

political equals that is most likely

what he meant today we have a different

interpretation of this and we'll talk

about this in class about what this

statement means to us in the present day

the Declaration of Independence would go

on to list all the wrongs that were

committed by the English king and by

Parliament towards America that violated

violated their unalienable rights

unalienable rights means rights that you

are basically born with these are rights

that you know you have that you know you

have because you

use reason nobody has to tell you you

have these rights you know you have

these rights and so the Declaration of

Independence after all this is what

basically is what created an independent

United States of America our own country

and we'll take a closer look at this

document in class because this is when

the United States really comes into

existence all right thanks for watching

the next presentation we'll take a look

at the American Revolution and

everything that went on while the

Declaration of Independence was being

written