The enlightenment
Both the enlightenment and the great awakening had an impact on the colonies. The enlightenment combined both philosophical and intellectuals movement. The movement originated from the Renaissance humanism era, which incorporated creativity and remarkable social change. They combined ideas influencing colonies to establish their nations, including freedom of press and speech, religious tolerance, and equality. The movement incorporated various techniques, including scientific discoveries, books, war, inventions, and revolutions. The Great Awakening advocated spiritual practices. They encouraged black people to attend the white churches and sometimes allowed them to preach. The Great awakening influenced the religious climate during the colonies. Therefore, by weighing out the enlightenment and The Great Awakening impact on the colonies, the enlightenment had the most significant impact. Enlightenment influenced slavery, institutional change, and ideology.
The enlightenment influenced the establishment of antislavery and abolitionist movements during colonialism. According to Boyer et al., the enlightenment movement comprised of educated colonist and ministers who promoted the widespread of information and ideas (117). Some of the enlightenment members were also abolitionists. They eradicated the traditional debate on slavery as a natural human resource. The intellectuals in the movement integrated moral reforms and humanitarianism to end slavery in the American community by arguing that freedom is inherent human rights. The enlightenment influenced property rights, economic incentives, self-improvement, use of machinery instead of human effort, and encouraged religious practices which stimulated the antislavery campaigns.
Additionally, the enlightenment affected the government, education, and religious institutions in the colonies. Enlightenment encouraged individuals to engage in politics and education (116). The movement promoted critical thinking, writing, and reading skills. It is worth noting that the ‘enlightenment’ was also ‘age of reason.’ Therefore, through skepticism and tolerance, the enlightenment period featured an increase in literacy across the European countries. For example, Benjamin Franklin organized learning groups to assist in advancing ideas. However, enlightenment is the foundation of the modern political structure. During the colonial era, the enlightenment frustrated the administration sovereignty in church and the government, leading to the political revolution. Because of religious conflict in Europe, enlightenment intellectuals sought to downsize the occurrence of another disdainful religious conflict by introducing deism and atheism. Therefore, the enlightenment changed the government, education, and religious institution.
Finally, enlightenment incorporated scientific principles. Through enlightenment, there was the separation of the scientific tenets from theology and philosophy. The intellectual movement included remarkable scientific figures, for example, Isaac Newton, who explained how the gravity controls the universe (117). The central objective of the enlightenment was to progress and undermine authority from political and religious entities to establish liberation of thought and speech to make people’s lives comfortable. Therefore, through scientific principles, individuals’ lives got more comfortable. For example, through science, there was an improvement in book production, farming activities, and experiments in the colonial era. This led to the development of the intercolonial connection.
Generally, the enlightenment had the most significant impact on the colonies. The movement influenced slavery, institutions, and it incorporated scientific principles. The enlightenment movement included abolitionists and educated colonists who eradicated the custom debate of slavery and reinforcing freedom as a human right. Also, they influenced property rights, economic incentives, self-improvement, use of machinery instead of human effort, and encouraged religious practices which stimulated the antislavery campaigns. The enlightenment encouraged scientific principles that promoted farming and education.
Works cited
Boyer, Paul S., et al. The enduring vision: A history of the American people, Volume I: To 1877. Cengage Learning, 2013.