Chapter 3: Colonial Society in the 18th Century

Question 1

Great Awakening

Answer 1

A movement characterized by fervent expressions of religious feeling among masses of people
~There was less emphasis than in Puritan times on human sinfulness and the perils of damnation
~Sermons were long intellectual discourses and portrayed God as a benign creator of a perfectly ordered universe

Question 2

Jonathon Edwards

Answer 2

Initiated the Great Awakening with a series of sermons
~”Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” 1741; limited influence, New England only
~Invoking the Old Testament Scriptures, he argued that God was rightfully angry with human sinfulness
~Any individual who expressed deep penitence could be saved by God’s grace, but the souls who paid no heed to God’s commandments would suffer eternal damnation

Question 3

George Whitefield

Answer 3

An English preacher who ignited the Great Awakening from one end of Colonial America to the other
~Rousing sermons on the hellish torments of the damned
~Stressed that God was all-powerful and would save only those who openly professed their belief in Jesus Christ, those who did not were cast into hell
~Taught that ordinary people who had faith and sincerity could understand the Christian Gospels without depending on a minister to lead them

Question 4

Cotton Mather

Answer 4

Wrote widely read religious tracts

~From Massachusetts

Question 5

“Poor Richard’s Almanac”

Answer 5

A popular piece of literature in the 18th century
~Written by Benjamin Franklin
~Held many witty aphorisms and advice
~Was annually revised from 1732-1757

Question 6

John Peter Zenger

Answer 6

A New York editor and publisher charged with libelously criticizing New York’s royal governor
~His lawyer, Andrew Hamilton argued that his client had printed the truth
~English common law stated: inuring a governor’s reputation was considered a criminal act whether it was true or not
~Ignoring English law, he was acquitted