Colonial Experience,

American IdentityInterdependence ties together colonies

Intellectual/cultural changes erode European traditions

Opportunities add to sense of entitlement

I. The Age of Reason

“Enlightenment”

Rational society

A. Rational self-interest

1. Repulsed by Salem

2. “Self-made” men

Liberty

B. The English Connection

1. Isaac Newton

1687 – Principia Mathematica

Natural Law

2. John Locke

1689 – Essay Concerning Human Understanding

“tabula rasa”

1690 – Two Treatises on Government

Contract Theory

“Natural Rights” Life, Liberty, Property

English Liberalism

C. Churches

1. Deism

Harvard theologians - “liberal” Protestantism

Innate evil?

Innate authority?

D. American perspective

1. Pragmatism

Benjamin Franklin

- active, confident, improving- Voluntary Associations- Self-education- Social improvement

The First Great Awakening

A. Revivals 1734-1775

1. Anglicans = George Whitfield Methodists = John Wesley Presbyterians = Gilbert Tennant

2. Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, 1741

- revive Calvinism God-centered universe

predestinationAmerica cannot shirk its destiny

- detested “money-grubbers” moral relativism

B. Causes

1. Economic frustration / competition“River Gods”

2. Women

C. Revivalism

1. American-style Protestantismalways looking for converts

2. Blends religion & politics1760s Connecticut: Old Lights v. New Lights

3. Denominationalism: religious pluralism - end of state-supported churches - revivals split churches - breaks political power of churches

D. Cultural basis of Revolution

1. Required no education: egalitarian

2. Gave poorer, rural colonists commonexperience

3. Experience was anti-authoritarian

4. Gave colonists common enemySatan “Millennialism”

King of France (Catholic)

King of England