First+Great+Awakening

Learning Objectives: Discuss the characteristics of the major non-English ethnic groups that came to the colonies. What were the basic tenets of Enlightenment thought? Examine the causes and consequences of the First Great Awakening.
 * CHAPTER 4: AMERICAN SOCIETY TRANSFORMED, 1720-1770**

//Introduction//, 91 //Population Growth and Ethnic Diversity//, 93 Involuntary Migrants from Africa Newcomers from Europe Scots-Irish, Germans, and Scots Maintaining Ethnic and Religious Identities

//Colonial Cultures//, 103 The Enlightenment Links to the World: Smallpox Inoculation Religious and Civic Rituals Rituals of Consumption Rituals on the "Middle Ground"

//Crisis in Religion//, 114 George Whitefield Impact of the Awakening


 * People, Places, and Events**

Wikipedia articles have value in supplementing our text and class notes, thereby providing a first cut at a more profound analysis of the people, places, and events we will study this semester.

Useful Wikipedia articles pertaining to topics within this module are interspersed in the material below.

Indentured servant []


 * FROM COURSE NOTES**

Population doubled every 25 years At 1700: 250,000; at 1775: 2.5 million In–migration accounted for some of the increase Most was from natural causes Women's youthful age at the onset of childbearing was key
 * Population growth**:

Because of immigration patterns and the concentration of slavery in the south, by the beginning of the American Revolution, half of the population south of New England was of non-English background.
 * Immigration of non–English ethnic groups from 1720 to 1760**:

Africans: 280,000 Africans came to mainland Largest ethnic or racial group that arrived Offspring of slaves were also slaves

White, Non–English immigration:

Scots–Irish (100,000) []

Germans (85,000) [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_immigration_to_the_United_States#Colonial_Era]

Scots (35,000) []

English and Irish convicts (50,000): Transportation Act [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_transportation#North_American_transportation]

Though many aspects of colonial life accentuated differences between colonies, various public rituals connected the colonies. Public rituals reinforced local customs and hierarchies. These rituals were basis for cultural identities.
 * Public Rituals**:

Church attendance an important ritual. Rituals involved entrance into and seating in colonial churches Symbolized place in society and values of the local community. New England: Congregational (Puritan) churches, Seating assigned to reflect standing in the community Based on combination of age, wealth, & church membership. Virginia: Anglican Church Seating reflected local status hierarchy. Planter families purchased their own pews Planters often moved into church as a group, deliberately drawing attention to their exalted position.
 * Religious rituals**

Official days of thanksgiving (for good harvests, victory in war) Days of fasting and prayer (over droughts and epidemics) Militia gatherings Court days (Chesapeake) Elections (oral ballots, treating with rum) Public punishment of criminals (hangings and whippings).
 * Civic rituals**

Wide availability of consumer goods by 1720 made rituals possible Created an "empire of goods." Rituals began with acquisition of desirable items Consumers would then display their purchases to show them off. Rituals related to tea drinking became particularly important. Tea provided a focal point for socializing Tea service was a crucial marker of status. [High tea in ritzy hotels today.]
 * Consumption rituals**

Relationships with Indians "Middle ground" both a psychological and geographical Need to present Indians with gifts before trading for furs. Rum became the major gift Rum tended to destroy Indian society
 * Intercultural rituals**

[] James II wanted to tighten royal control of the colonies. First step: Dominion of New England headed by Edmund Andros. Charters of all colonies from New Jersey to Maine revoked. All assemblies dissolved. What were the implications for democracy in America?
 * Dominion of New England**

[]
 * Glorious Revolution in England** (1689–90)

James II exiled to France. William and Mary became new monarchs. Power of the King lessened; power of Parliament increased. Affirmed the supremacy of both Parliament and Protestantism. Glorious Revolution in America (1689). Major impact: Dominion of New England and Andros overthrown. Union of England and Scotland (1707). Great Britain (British) is the term used.

Age of Enlightenment []
 * The Enlightenment**:

Articles from //New York Times// on Digital Tracking of aspects of the Enlightenment [] [] []

History to this point believed faith was the sole guide to knowledge Faith was based on emotion (the heart) not the head (reason)

Holders of Enlightenment views differed What we would call secular humanism today Was bothersome to deeply religious people

Enlightenment is often encompasses aspects of Deism [] []

God was a master clockmaker Put the world in motion No longer involved himself in the world

Holders of Enlightenment views believed in the following: Experimental method and observation should rule We live in a mechanistic universe Universe moves in accordance with natural laws Reason can explain these laws Emotion will not help explain these laws

[] Challenged previous concepts of a divinely sanctioned political order Governments were created by men and so could be altered by them If a ruler broke his contract with the people and did not protect their rights, he could legitimately be ousted from power by peaceful—or even violent—means. The aim of government was the good of the people.
 * John Locke's //Two Treatises of Government//** (1691):

Began in Massachusetts; in all colonies by 1760s.
 * First Great Awakening**:

First Great Awakening []

[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards_(theology])
 * Jonathan Edwards**

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God []

Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University []

Jonathan Edwards: Northampton, Massachusetts (1734–35) He noticed a remarkable number of conversions among the youth of his church to a message based on Calvinist principles, a recognition of their own depraved natures and the need to surrender completely to God's will.

[] The effects of such conversions remained isolated until 1739, when George Whitefield, an English Anglican clergyman, arrived in America. For fifteen months he toured the colonies, Preached to large audiences from Georgia to New England. His journey: new interconnection among the previously distinct colonies.
 * George Whitefield**:

Challenged deference, introduced egalitarianism to the colonies. Divided churches over several issues: Were pastors clearly born again? How much education did pastors need? Was itinerant evangelism allowable? Denominations split into New Lights and Old Lights (Presbyterians) and Old Sides and New Sides (Congregationalists). [] []
 * Impact of the Awakening**:

[]
 * Library of Congress exhibition about the First Great Awakening**:

Read the Introduction You can skip the section entitled "The Appearance of Eighteenth-Century Churches."

Deal with "Deism" briefly.

Then spend most of your time on the remainder of the page: "The Emergence of American Evangelicalism: The Great Awakening"

These items are most useful:

George Whitefield Jonathan Edwards The Revival of Northampton Sinners Warned Transatlantic Evangelicalism

These items flesh out the Great Awakening story:

Gilbert Tennent [] Criticism of other ministers The Baptists Francis Asbury Beginning of the Methodists Organization of the Methodists