The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening had a major impact on colonial North American development. It began during the early sixteenth and late seventeenth centuries. In the North, the larger cities began to develop into important seaports. However, in the south, the colonies acted as a major contributor to colonial America’s economy. Resulting in these changes, the colonial population exponentially increased due to the large amounts of immigrants arriving in the colonies. In addition to all these economic and demographic changes, colonial America underwent two major revivals that brought long-term effects to religion, government and human nature. These two revivals were the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening. They were diverse ideas that changed the worldview of 18th century America, prior to the American Revolution.
The Enlightenment, was known as the Age of Reason. The Age of Reason was a scientific revolution that spread far out beyond the world of science. People began to look for laws governing human society. This challenged divine right, which said that kings got their power from God. These ideas ended up paving the way for this new movement.
During this Age of Reason, there were many …show more content…
It was a series of religious movements directed at bringing back devotion and piety throughout the colonies. George Whitefield and Jonathon Edwards were some of the people that were trying to turn people back to God. George Whitefield, was a Puritan minister that forced to give emotional sermons to reach out to the colonists. He also preached that “good works” and “godly lives” would bring you salvation. Jonathon Edwards, was a Puritan Minster that terrified listeners with his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry