Prompt
Prompt 9: “Analyze how changing religious ideals, Enlightenment beliefs and republican thought shaped political and social trends from the
colonial through reconstruction periods.”
Context
Enlightenment beliefs, influenced by philosophers such as John Locke, advanced thought in four fundamental principles of the natural world:
the law like order of the natural world, the power of human reason, the "natural rights" of individuals, and the progressive improvement of
society. In contrast, religious ideals continued to grow due to movements such as the Great Awakening: a revival of faith based on emotion and
spiritual zeal, differing greatly from the logic and reason of the Enlightenment. However, both of these movements contributed to the idea of
American independence. A belief in so-called "natural rights" advanced republican thought by leading to a belief in democracy, away from the
tyranny of Britain.
Thesis Statement
Changing religious ideals, Enlightenment beliefs and republican thought shaped political and social trends from the colonial through
reconstruction periods as appeals logic and reason as well as emotion and religious zeal contributed to a belief in individualism and the idea of
American democracy.
Evidence
Enlightenment: A European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th
centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. Ideas such
as the belief that each person in society had through basic human nature the
rights to life, liberty, and property (John Locke), or the idea of (as philosopher
Emmanuel Kant put it in 1784) freedom from “self incurred tutelage.”
● American Revolution: Political upheaval in which rebellious members
from the thirteen colonies fought to dismantle the monarchy of Britain
and its control over the soon to be founded Unites States.
● Declaration of Independence: Document written by founding fathers
declaring independence from Britain based on the idea that all men are
created equal
○ Abolitionist Movement: Abolitionist represented people who
advocated immediate emancipation of slaves. More radical
than other groups, who wanted gradual emancipation,
abolitionists sought to “abolish” slavery and its injustices.
Notable leaders were William Lloyd Garrison, a white
newspaper author who founded the “Liberator” and Frederick
Douglass, a runaway slave who exhibited high intellectual
abilities.
○ Seneca Falls: The Seneca Falls, organized by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and Susan B. Anthony convention represented the
first steps toward gender equality in America, advertised to
discuss the religious, social, and civil conditions of women’s
rights in American society.
● Trend of splitting from oppressor (US from Britain, South from
Northern): Happens twice in American history, first with colonial split
from Britain and secondly with Southern Confederate States seceding
from Northern Union.
○ Common Sense: Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
advocating the colonies secession from Britain; an attack on
King George as well as outdated concept of monarchy
○ Salutary Neglect: Throughout the late seventeenth and early
eighteenth centuries, the English government did not enforce
those trade laws that most harmed the colonial economy. The
English ceased practicing salutary neglect following British
victory in the French and Indian War.
Religious Ideals
● Great Awakening(s): A Great Awakening can refer to period of
religious revival in American history. Historians and theologians have
recognized three to four waves of sporadic religious enthusiasm
occurring between the 18th century and 19th century.
Analysis
Enlightenment: Ideas regarding individual rights and
thought became prevalent in society. Enlightened thinkers
and believers realized their ability to think and act for
themselves instead of relying on a Monarch regime to
control their lives. These initially European ideals translated
greatly to the American cause. With British control posing as
an unfair and overpowering force in colonial American lives,
Enlightened ideas gave early Americans not only the
incentive for their rebellious actions but also justification.
The notion that each person had rights to their life, liberty,
and property, allowed colonists to argue that these
“inalienable rights” were being disrespected by Britain.
because of unfair military, trade, and tax policies.
● American Revolution: Enlightenment beliefs such
as the idea of natural human rights as well as the
progressive improvement of society sparked the
ideals of freedom and independence that ultimately
led to the American Revolution. As republican
thought replaced the idea of England's monarchy,
Americans fought for individual liberty as well as a
representative government of the people
● Declaration of Independence: Result of
enlightenment ideals of individualism and natural
rights
○ Abolitionist Movement/Seneca Falls:
Belief in the notion that “all men are
created equal” once written in the D of I
now applicable to Americans who weren’t
wealthy white males
● Trend of splitting from oppressor (US from
Britain, South from Northern): Recurring theme
throughout American history. Both instances are
results of one section of a greater nation feeling
oppressed by the other. Result of evolution of
republican thought and individualism, and belief of
entitlement to a separate state with supportive laws.
○ Salutary Neglect: Britain's policy of
Salutary Neglect gave birth to a feeling of
American independence. Americans
became accustomed to England
maintaining a looser hold of the colonies,
○
Jonathan Edwards stimulated religious reelings up and down
the connecticut river valley; believed in Enlightenment
thinking, however also believed that people’s beliefs depended
on their passions
○ Presbyterian minister Charles G. Finney conducted emotional
revival meetings that stressed conversion rather than doctrine.
Greatly accelerated the Second Great Awakening wave of
protestant revivalism that had begun after the Revolution.
■ Religious revivals such as the First and Second Great
Awakenings often resulted in social movements such
as the Temperance movement during the Industrial
Revolution as well as the Benevolent Empire
● Utopian Communities: Communities in the 19th century that were
often led by appealing leaders with high religious or secular moral
ideals. These settlements experimented with different models of
marriage, government, labor, and wealth. Most notable of these
communities are members of the Brook Farm, Fruitlands, New
Harmony, Oneida, and the Shakers.
○ Mormons: Religious group that believed in polygamy; Not
accepted by general public due to out of the ordinary marital
practices and eventually moved to Utah during Westward
Expansion
● Abolitionists were greatly influenced by this religious revival because
people rethought their initial moral values and challenged previously
held social prejudices, especially concerning slaves in America.
Republican Thought: Believed in democracy, changed from colonial period to
reconstruction.
● (Lincoln Era) Republican Policy: Politically revolutionary for
reunionizing a divided nation,
○ Emancipating slaves/13-15 amendments:Emancipation
Proclamation given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 stated that
all slaves in rebellious states would become emancipated. This
act was symbolic in the sense that wherever the Union army
traveled, they would be freeing those enslaved. After the civil
war, and Abraham Lincoln’s death, the Republican party
continued Lincoln’s political path. The 13th-15th
amendments which, in order, abolished slavery, gave former
slaves citizenship, and gave all men the right to vote
○ Freedmen’s Bureau: The institution of the promoted
education and welfare for former slaves that reflected
Republican ideals at the time. However, social treatment of
blacks did not improve and social inequality continued (ie:
Black Codes) until the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement.
● Jacksonian Democracy: political movement during the Second Party
System toward greater democracy for the common man symbolized by
American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters
○ Era of Common Man: Andrew Jackson (also known as
“Old Hickory”) appealed to the common people as a “self
made man” and one who represented the ideals of the majority
of Americans
● Western Frontier and Expansion: Expansion onto the Western
Frontier. Portrayed romantically and promoted the images of the long
range, cowboys, and a “fresh start.” In reality was dominated by
expansion of the transcontinental railroad and growing coast to coast
industry.
■ Led by American ideal of Manifest Destiny
○
so when this period of salutary neglect
ended Americans pushed back with new
social ideals of freedom and independence,
eventually leading them to a new
republican way of thinking and breaking
ties with England in the American
Revolution
Common Sense: Influenced by ideas of
natural rights of individuals. Used logic
and reason to attack British monarchy
Religious Ideals
● Great Awakening(s): Religious movements
throughout America often arose due to a rebirth of
passion and the desire for a feeling of hope.
Socially, they often resulted in a revived sense of
duty to act for the good of society.
○ Religious revival increased religious
devotion by being very passionate more of
a preaching style. Less relation with church
and more of a direct relation with God.
● Utopian Communities: New social as well as
religious trends arose in the antebellum period arose
due to a backlash against industrialism and the new
idea of workers being dependent on a boss and a
clock. Transcendentalists placed emphasis on
nature while the shakers and Mormons resulted as
a rebirth of religious fervor due to the Second Great
Awakening.
○ Socially these small communities were still
seen by the public as strange or different,
and generally regarded as outcasts
Republican Thought
● (Lincoln Era) Republican Policy: These
republicans greatly revolutionized the future of the
American political landscape, especially with
regards to rights of African Americans. The first of
these revolutionary acts came with the
○ Emancipation Proclamation and 13-15th
amendments politically and socially
revolutionized what could be accomplished
with regards to equality by the American
government.
● Jackson: Jackson socially represented ideals of a
self made man and appealed to the common people.
Politically the idea of mass public appeal led to
political candidates campaigning and attempting to
appeal to all audiences that is still seen today
● Western Frontier and Expansion: The Western
Frontier represented a “fresh start” for many
aspiring Americans. It helped shape the modern
American identity by creating a new kind of people
whose identities were purely American. It helped
separate the American culture from the previously
overshadowing European one. This contributed to
an American sense of pride and independence, a
social pattern reoccurring throughout American
history.