US History

U.S. History Study Guide

Influential Men of the Enlightenment in Col nial America • Thomas Hobbes (England) was the first in the Enlightenment to write extensively on the idea of a social contract and government's role in society • John Locke (England) wrote about guaranteed rights that every human had, given by God, "Life, Liberty, and Land" and if any government infringed these rights, the people had the right to overthrow that tyrannical government, which heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" • Jean Jacques Rousseau (France) argued that the government is based on the idea of popular rule and the will of the people gives power and direction to the government. • Montesquieu (France) argued corruption and tyranny could be prevented by the separation of powers that would be governed by a systemof governing laws on them, or checks and balances • Benjamin Franklin (Colonial Pennsylvania-U. S.) was an inventor, editor; scientist, statesman, and an intellectual giant of the English colonies who embodied everything the Enlightenment represented and would help to put these ideas to practice in the founding of the United States. Significance of the Enlightenment • In the English colonies, it created a culture of independence and a framework on how to create a better government, these ideas would directly affect colonial attitudes to English rule and inspire the American Revolution The Enlightenment's Impact on Religion Many Americans began to question certain practices of the Christian faith, and incorporating new rational views on religion. Proponents of rationalism held that religious beliefs should not be blindly accepted, but should be attained through examination and contemplation. For most rationalists, the existence of God was proven by the workings of nature, this pointed to a rational God. The most extreme rationalists, called Deists, argued that where the Bible conflicted with reason, it should be ignored. Deists, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, believed that a rational God had created a perfect universe and then stepped back to let it operate according to natural laws. Significance • Colonists began to question the practices of religious authority that had never been questioned • Colonists emphasized logic rather than superstition • The colonists started believing they had autonomy in their lives and questioned government authority more and more 4.11 The First Great Awakening In the 1730s and 1740s the colonies had a large religious movement called the First Great Awakening, which was influenced by the Enlightenment and the chaos of the SalemWitch Trials. Revival ministers preached some very radical ideas including the meaninglessness of material wealth, the corruption

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