Unit 2: Topic 7 - Colonial Society and Culture Flashcards
What was the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment was a movement in Europe that emphasized rational thinking over tradition and religious revelation.
One major Enlightenment thinker was John Locke. He emphasized the idea of natural rights- all human beings have rights to life, liberty, and property endowed by a creator.
What was the First Great Awakening?
The First Great Awakening was a religious revival movement in response to society’s shift away from religion and towards rational thought as emphasized by the Enlightenment.
Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were two key preachers in this movement. They emphasized a personal religious experience and declared all men equal before god. This principle of equality caused many to question the British monarchy and their right to rule.
What was the transatlantic print culture?
As trade continued across the Atlantic Ocean, printed books and pamphlets further spread the ideas of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening as part of the transatlantic print culture
Anglicization of British Colonies
Anglicization
Despite the pluralism of the colonial period, the American colonies gradually developed political communities and institutions based on English models. British customs and norms were adopted and local governments were based off this Anglo-Saxon society and culture, bringing common traits to all the colonies. English was the main language in the colonies, they read British books and literature, and used British currency.
In what ways did the goals of European leaders and colonists diverge?
Territorial Settlements
- Conflicting claims over settlement in Western lands
Frontier Defense
- Bacon’s Rebellion showed frustration of the colonists towards British authority and the lack of action against Native American attacks
Self-Rule
- King James I attempted to abolish the House of Burgesses
- the Dominion of New England took away elements of self-rule in New England, New York, and New Jersey
Trade
- the Navigation Acts were widely ignored by virtually all of the colonists
What were some similarities and differences between the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening?
Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening questioned the authority of the king, claiming that a government’s power comes from the people (the Enlightenment) and that every person was equal in God’s eyes (the Great Awakening).
At the same time, the Enlightenment was about rationalism and science while the Great Awakening was a religious movement.
How was the Glorious Revolution in England an influence on the upcoming American Revolution?
The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless revolution in England in 1688-89 that placed new monarchs on the throne. Its significance in US History is that it limited the authority of the monarchy, expanded the power of Parliament, and gave the English subjects the Declaration of Rights. Many historians consider the Glorious Revolution a turning point in history towards Constitutionalism and an influence on the American Revolution.
What political movement encouraged citizens to be distrustful of their government?
The 18th century Radical Whigs or “Real Whigs” were British political critics who encouraged citizens to be on guard against the monarchy’s corruption and attempts to take away liberties and rights from citizens.
