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The Enlightenment emphasized
reason and science as the path
to knowledge
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Ben Franklin
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John Locke
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Men are all rational and capable people (Natural Rights)
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Government must work for the people to protect Natural Rights
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Baron Charles de Montesquieu
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Division of state (federalism) and separation of powers
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Sir Isaac Newton
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Thomas Paine
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Scholar and mathematician regarded as the father of physical science
Author who had a profound influence on public sentiment during
the American Revolution
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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The Social Contract (1762) conceived of a system of direct democracy in
which all citizens contribute to an overarching “general will” that
serves everyone at once
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Movement began in Europe
Knowledge, reason, & science
could improve society
Schools of higher learning open
across America
Enlightenment thinkers stressed
observation or experimentation
as the means to understanding
the world
Thinkers such as John Locke
applied natural laws to societies.
Ideas about natural rights and
government influenced leaders
American thinker, diplomat, and inventor
• Life, Liberty, & Property
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Based on Natural laws of the
universe developed by scientists;
such as gravity
In the Early 1700s,
many colonists lost
the religious passion
that had driven
Pilgrims, Puritans and
others to seek out a
new life in America
1730s-1740 a religious
revival began to
sweep through the
colonies lead by
travelling ministers
1720 Estimated Religious Statistics
New England—1 in 7 belonged to a church.
Middle Colonies—1 in 15 belonged to a church.
Southern Colonies—1 in 15 supported a church.
Ben Franklin Best known colonial American scientist
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Began in the New
England Colonies and
spread.
Travelling ministers
preached that inner
religious emotion was
more important that
outward behavior.
The Sermons appealed
to the heart and drew
large crowds
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George Whitefield
Jonathan Edwards
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Called the "Great Itinerant" because he
traveled and preached all around
North American and Europe between
1740 and 1770.
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Some groups
welcomed women,
African-Americans
and Native Americans
as members of the
congregation
Colleges such as
Princeton and Brown
were created to train
Ministers
Pushed individual
religious experience over
established doctrine
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Preached in New England; emphasized
personal approach to religion; bucked
Puritan traditions and called for unity
instead of intolerance
Protestant groups
began to expand
Decreased the importance of
the clergy & the church
Encouraged ideas of
equality, unity, & the
right to challenge
authority
These ideas inspired
future generations to
challenge the authority of
the English government
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Lead to the American
Revolution and Declaration
of Independence
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