APUSH Review: Video #9: The 1st Great Awakening, Anglicization, & The Enlightenment

Summary

This educational video delves into the First Great Awakening and the Enlightenment's influence on the 13 American colonies. It highlights the rise of pluralism with diverse European settlers and their religious and intellectual exchanges. Key figures like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and George Whitfield are discussed for their roles in religious revival and the emergence of new Christian denominations. The video connects these movements to the growing resistance against British authority, which later fueled the American Revolution. It also explores the concept of Anglicization, where colonies adopted British norms, and the mercantilist system that led to colonial pushback due to a lack of representation in Parliament.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The First Great Awakening was a religious revival that occurred in both England and the 13 colonies, emphasizing individual spirituality.
• 📜 Key figures of the First Great Awakening include Jonathan Edwards, known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God', John Wesley who helped found Methodism, and George Whitfield, an influential orator.
• 🌱 Pluralism during this period refers to the coexistence of multiple groups from different continents and religious backgrounds in the 13 colonies, fostering intellectual exchanges.
• 🌿 The impacts of the First Great Awakening include the emergence of new branches of Christianity, such as Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, and a challenge to traditional religious authority.
• 💡 The Enlightenment was a period of questioning government and divine authority, with influential thinkers like John Locke advocating natural rights, Montesquieu proposing the separation of powers, and Voltaire championing freedom of religion and speech.
• 🇬🇧 Anglicization refers to the adoption of British norms and customs by the American colonies, influenced by transatlantic print culture and the spread of ideas and goods.
• 📊 Mercantilism was the economic theory where colonies existed to generate profit for the mother country, exemplified by the Navigation Acts which restricted colonial trade to Britain.
• 🚫 Colonial resistance to imperial control stemmed from a lack of representation in British Parliament, a desire for the same rights as those in Britain, and the influence of Enlightenment ideas.
• 🏛️ The idea of rejecting authority, inspired by the First Great Awakening, played a role in the challenges to British authority in the 1760s and 1770s, leading up to the American Revolution.
• 🌐 Transatlantic exchanges, such as George Whitfield's preaching tours, facilitated the spread of ideas from Europe to America, impacting religious and intellectual developments.
• 📚 The script encourages students to connect the dots between the First Great Awakening, the Enlightenment, Anglicization, and the eventual resistance to British rule, highlighting the significance of these movements in shaping American history.

Q & A

What is pluralism in the context of the script?

Pluralism in this context refers to the coexistence of multiple groups with different cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds living together in the 13 colonies, especially during the time of the first Great Awakening.

Who was William Penn and why is he significant in the script?

William Penn was the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania and is significant because he represents the influx of people from various European regions to the English colonies, contributing to the pluralism and intellectual exchanges of the time.

What was the first Great Awakening and why was it significant?

The first Great Awakening was a religious revival that occurred in England and the 13 colonies, emphasizing individual spirituality and leading to the emergence of new branches of Christianity, such as Methodism, Baptism, and Presbyterianism.

Who were the key figures of the first Great Awakening mentioned in the script?

The key figures mentioned are Jonathan Edwards, who is known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'; John Wesley, the founder of Methodism; and George Whitefield, an influential orator from England who preached in the Americas.

How did the first Great Awakening influence the American Revolution?

The first Great Awakening challenged traditional religious authority, which later inspired a rejection of British authority in the 1760s and 1770s, contributing to the ideological foundation of the American Revolution.

What is the Enlightenment and how did it relate to the American colonies?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that questioned government and divine authority, promoting ideas like natural rights and separation of powers. It influenced the American colonies by inspiring the challenge to traditional authority and the development of democratic principles.

Who are some of the key Enlightenment thinkers mentioned in the script?

Key Enlightenment thinkers mentioned are John Locke, who advocated for natural rights; Montesquieu, who proposed the separation of powers; and Voltaire, who championed freedom of religion and speech.

What does 'Anglicization' mean in the context of the American colonies?

Anglicization refers to the process by which the American colonies adopted more British norms, customs, and cultural practices, influenced by transatlantic exchanges and the close contact with Britain.

What is mercantilism and how did it affect the relationship between the colonies and Britain?

Mercantilism is the economic theory that colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country, in this case, Britain. It led to policies like the Navigation Acts, which required colonies to trade only with Britain, and contributed to colonial resistance due to the perceived exploitation.

Why did the colonies resist imperial control?

Colonies resisted imperial control due to a lack of representation in Parliament, the influence of Enlightenment ideas promoting self-governance and rights, and the perceived corruption within the imperial system, such as the actions of Sir Edmund Andros.

What is the significance of transatlantic exchanges in the script?

Transatlantic exchanges refer to the spread of ideas, goods, and cultural practices between Europe and America. They played a crucial role in the spread of religious revivalism, Enlightenment ideas, and the process of Anglicization in the colonies.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The First Great Awakening and Enlightenment

This paragraph introduces the concept of pluralism as the coexistence of multiple groups in the 13 colonies during the early American period. It highlights the First Great Awakening as a religious revival that began in England and spread to the colonies, emphasizing the focus on the individual. Key figures like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and George Whitfield are mentioned for their roles in the Awakening. The paragraph also discusses the Enlightenment, a period of questioning traditional authority, with influential thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. The impacts of the Awakening include the emergence of new Christian denominations and a challenge to traditional religious authority, which later inspired the American Revolution. The concept of Anglicization is introduced, describing how the colonies adopted British norms and customs, facilitated by transatlantic exchanges and the spread of British newspapers and Protestant evangelicalism.

05:00

🏛 Colonial Resistance and the Influence of the Enlightenment

The second paragraph delves into the resistance of the colonies to imperial control, stemming from their self-governance and the perceived corruption within the imperial system. It connects the Enlightenment's influence on challenging traditional ideas of government and religious authority to the growing dissent among colonists. The paragraph mentions Sir Edmund Andros as an example of a corrupt government official who was overthrown, illustrating the colonists' desire for the same rights as those in Britain. The summary connects the Enlightenment's emphasis on natural rights and liberties to the colonists' resistance to British rule, setting the stage for the American Revolution and the eventual establishment of a new government based on these principles.

Keywords

💡Pluralism

Pluralism in the context of the video refers to the coexistence of multiple groups with different cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds within a society. It is central to understanding the diversity of the 13 colonies where people from various European regions, including those of different religious beliefs, lived together, contributing to the intellectual and cultural exchanges that characterized the period.

💡First Great Awakening

The First Great Awakening was a religious revival that swept through England and the 13 colonies during the 18th century. It emphasized a personal relationship with God and individual spiritual experiences. Key figures like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and George Whitefield played significant roles in this movement, which also laid the groundwork for challenging traditional religious and, later, political authority.

💡Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards was a prominent figure during the First Great Awakening. Known for his sermons, Edwards is particularly famous for 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which encapsulates the urgency and intensity of the revivalist message. His work exemplifies the focus on individual spiritual awakening that was characteristic of the movement.

💡John Wesley

John Wesley was a significant religious leader who helped found Methodism, a denomination that emerged from the First Great Awakening. His influence extended to the formation of the Wesleyan Church, demonstrating the lasting impact of the Awakening on religious structures and the spiritual lives of individuals in the colonies.

💡Transatlantic Exchanges

Transatlantic exchanges refer to the flow of ideas, beliefs, and cultural practices between Europe and America. In the video, the term is used to describe how religious figures like George Whitefield traveled from England to the Americas to spread religious teachings, illustrating the interconnectedness of the two continents during this period.

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, including religious and political institutions. It had a profound impact on the development of democratic ideals and influenced the American Revolution and the formation of the U.S. Constitution, as seen in the video's mention of figures like John Locke and Voltaire.

💡Anglicization

Anglicization in the video refers to the process by which the American colonies adopted British norms, customs, and practices. This cultural assimilation was facilitated by transatlantic print culture, where British newspapers and ideas were widely read in the colonies, and by the influence of figures like George Whitefield, who spread Protestant evangelicalism.

💡Mercantilism

Mercantilism was the economic theory that colonies existed primarily to enrich the mother country. The video explains that the purpose of the thirteen colonies was to generate profit for Britain, as exemplified by the Navigation Acts, which restricted colonial trade to Britain alone, reflecting the exploitative nature of the colonial relationship.

💡Imperial Control

Imperial control in the context of the video refers to the governance and regulation exerted by Britain over its colonies. The script mentions resistance to this control due to the colonists' desire for self-government and the same rights as those living in Britain, which was a precursor to the American Revolution.

💡Colonial Resistance

Colonial resistance to imperial control was a reaction to the perceived injustices and limitations imposed by Britain on the colonies. The video highlights the lack of representation in Parliament and the desire for the same liberties as those in Britain, which were fueled by Enlightenment ideas and led to challenges against authority figures like Sir Edmund Andros.

💡Natural Rights

Natural rights, as mentioned in the video in relation to John Locke, are the rights that individuals are believed to possess inherently, such as life, liberty, and property. These concepts were foundational to the Enlightenment and significantly influenced the American Revolution and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

Highlights

The first Great Awakening was a religious revival in England and the 13 colonies, emphasizing individual spiritual experience.

Pluralism refers to multiple groups with different backgrounds living together in the 13 colonies during the colonial period.

People from various European regions, especially the middle colonies, brought diverse religious beliefs and intellectual exchanges to America.

Jonathan Edwards was a key figure in initiating the Great Awakening, known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and George Whitfield, an influential orator, contributed to the spread of religious revival across the Atlantic.

The Enlightenment was a period of questioning government and divine authority, with figures like John Locke advocating for natural rights.

Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers influenced the structure of the U.S. government.

Voltaire's beliefs in freedom of religion and speech influenced the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Anglicization refers to the adoption of British norms and customs by the American colonies, influenced by transatlantic exchanges.

Colonial governments were modeled after English systems, contributing to the anglicization of the colonies.

Transatlantic print culture, including the spread of British newspapers, played a role in the cultural anglicization of the colonies.

Mercantilism was the economic theory that colonies existed to generate profit for the mother country, leading to conflicts with colonial aspirations.

Colonists resisted imperial control due to a lack of representation in Parliament and a desire for the same rights as those in Britain.

The Enlightenment's ideas of liberty and questioning authority laid the groundwork for resistance to British rule in the 1760s and 1770s.

Colonial self-government and the perception of corruption within the imperial system fueled resistance to British control.

The rejection of traditional religious authority during the first Great Awakening contributed to the challenge of British authority in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

Transcripts

welcome back a push peeps me a video

number 9 for you this one will focus on

the first Great Awakening anglich is

Asian that's an important word to know

and the Enlightenment before you begin a

shout out time to mrs. Payne's class in

Louisiana thank you for watching best of

luck this year you are brilliant and

will do great so let's start talking

about pluralism and what pluralism is is

multiple groups living together and keep

in mind during this time you have many

people from different continents coming

to America and living in the 13 colonies

people from many European countries and

regions came to the English colonies

especially the middle colonies think of

Pennsylvania William Penn pictured here

and people from different religious

backgrounds are coming here as well and

with them we have intellectual exchanges

from different European groups okay the

first Great Awakening was a religious

revival in England and the 13 colonies

it's important to know this occurred in

England as well is a focus on the

individual some key people you should

know the first dude you should

definitely know Jonathan Edwards he

started the Great Awakening if we're

following along with the enhanced video

guide you I should be able to look at

one of his sermons an excerpt from one

of his sermons famous sinners in the

hands of an angry god next we have John

Wesley over here who helped found

Methodism and if you know Wesleyan

Church that was founded after this dude

John Wesley and the last guy down there

is George Whitfield he was a great

orator from England he came here to the

Americas from England and preached about

religion and this is an example of

something called transatlantic exchanges

or ideas being spread from Europe to

America okay so where are the impacts of

the first Great Awakening well we have

new branches of Christianity that

emerged groups like Methodists Baptists

and Presbyterians again John Wesleyan

and the Methodists formed during this

time there's a rejection of authority so

there's a challenge to traditional

religious authority and this is going to

help inspire rejection of British

Authority in the 1760s and 1770s so if

you're writing an essay about the

American Revolution definitely go back

to this idea of

in authority from the first great

awakening helped inspire people to

challenge authority in the 1760s and

1770s 70s which we'll talk about in a

couple videos from now so let's jump

over to the Enlightenment this is the

time of questioning of government and

divine authority so you people like John

Locke who believed in natural rights

life liberty and property Montesquieu

believed in separation of powers if you

ever forget that count out hit the

syllables in his name Montesquieu

there's three separation of powers think

three branches Voltaire believed in

freedom of religion and speech that will

go on to influence the First Amendment

of the US Constitution part of the Bill

of Rights

now anglich is Asian this is a term that

means the that America is basically

using more British norms and customs or

acting like Britain this makes sense

there's a lot of contact between the

thirteen colonies and Britain so the

colonies are going to behave and act and

use a lot of British customs and norms

so how are the colonies anglicized or

how did they become like Great Britain

while colonial governments were based on

English models transatlantic print

culture this is the idea of ideas and

goods being spread via trade and

newspapers so a lot of British

newspapers would be read in the Americas

and Protestant evangelicalism again we

have George Whitfield here he came from

England to America to spread his message

that's an example of transatlantic

exchanges that we just talked about a

moment ago now mercantilism and imperial

aims definitely know mercantilism this

is the idea that the counties exist for

making money for the mother country the

sole purpose of the thirteen colonies is

for Britain to make money off of them in

gain profit so brain wide an imperial

structure that was coherent and

hierarchical with them on top and the

counties would be subordinate to Great

Britain

an example this is the Navigation Acts

where the colonies could only trade with

Great Britain however conflicts with

commas and natives did emerge during

this time as specifically as the

colonists wanted to expand out west so

brain is going to seek to limit this

expansion

especially post seven years war where

the French and Indian War to avoid

conflict with natives let's talk about

that more in video 11 or 12 I can't

remember which one

so colonial resistance to Imperial

control the countless are going to

resist this Imperial structure it

occurred because of colonial

self-government certain colonists could

vote for representatives but they had no

say in Parliament so they had say si in

colonial laws but they didn't in English

or British laws there are also ideas of

liberties colonists saw themselves as

British and want the same rights as

those that were born and lived in

Britain the Enlightenment I can't

overstate how influential this was this

is the challenging traditional ideas of

government religious independence and

diversity is another reason there's lots

of a focus on the Anglican Church and

this led to challenging Authority in

other areas again in the 1760s and 1770s

people are going to begin to challenge

the government

there's perceived corruption in the

imperial system people like Sir Edmund

Andros of the dominion of New England he

eliminated colonial assemblies and he

was seen as a corrupt government

official and he will eventually be

overthrown alright let's do a quick

recap pluralism know what it is impacts

of the first Great Awakening absolutely

connect that bad boy to the American

Revolution be able to identify and

explain to key people from the Great

Awakening enlightenment and to people as

well know them especially John Locke

anglich is Asian what is it how were the

colonies anglicize or how they become

anglicized that's a horribly worded

question sorry about that

what is mercantilism and why did

colonists resist Imperial control

alright look forward to see you back

here for video number 10 slavery in the

British colonies in slave resistance

thank you for watching best of luck on

all of your exams and have a good day