In the seventeenth century, Europe was undergoing drastic movements such as the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment. These movements significantly impacted a citizen’s relationship with their government, how they practiced religion, and their overall perception of the role and capabilities of institutions. Not only were these new ideas present in Europe, but they also diffused to colonies such as America. During the period 1607 to 1754, Enlightenment philosophy influenced Americans politically by causing colonists to view their government as an institution designed to serve their needs and ensure their natural rights, religiously by inspiring Americans to practice their faith without dependency on religious officials in societies such
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Americans colonists exemplified these ideological changes by challenging the authority of government officials on matters of political equality and religious freedom, and resisting mercantilist policies established by the British government.
Between 1607 and 1754, American’s perception of government transitioned from viewing authority submissively to believing that the purpose of government was to meet the demands of American citizens. In the seventeenth century, many European countries were ruled by absolute monarchs such as Louis XIV in France. Absolute monarchs ruled with total authority over their people. Divine right often strengthened a monarch’s power. This government design led to citizens viewing their leaders as superiors whom they obeyed without resistance or question. However, during the Enlightenment, philosophers such as John Locke presented revolutionary ideas that contradicted the widespread acceptance of absolute monarchy. In Two Treatises of Government by John Locke, Locke describes a nation’s government as an institution controlled by citizens. He also proposed that the purpose of …show more content…
A religious society in America called the Quakers challenged the traditional role of organized religion as a result of observing how forcing citizens to conform to one religious institutions violated citizen’s rights and cause turmoil in England. According to a prominent Quaker, William Penn, forcing citizens to join the Church of England infringed on Enlightenment principles of religious freedom (Penn). The French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire shared in Penn’s opinions on favoring religious tolerance over religious conformity. According to Voltaire, a country with only one church was in danger of tyranny, a country with two churches faced the issue of religious conflict, and a church with a variety of religions coexists harmoniously (Dilworth). Quakers also rejected other aspects of organized religion such as sacraments and church hierarchy. By reading and deciphering the Bible themselves (ENLIGHTENMENT), Quakers came to the conclusion that God viewed his subjects as equals regardless of status in the church. They condemned sacraments because the Bible led them to believe that faith and dedication to God was all that was necessary for salvation (Taylor, 94). William Penn formed a community in Pennsylvania based
Americans colonists exemplified these ideological changes by challenging the authority of government officials on matters of political equality and religious freedom, and resisting mercantilist policies established by the British government.
Between 1607 and 1754, American’s perception of government transitioned from viewing authority submissively to believing that the purpose of government was to meet the demands of American citizens. In the seventeenth century, many European countries were ruled by absolute monarchs such as Louis XIV in France. Absolute monarchs ruled with total authority over their people. Divine right often strengthened a monarch’s power. This government design led to citizens viewing their leaders as superiors whom they obeyed without resistance or question. However, during the Enlightenment, philosophers such as John Locke presented revolutionary ideas that contradicted the widespread acceptance of absolute monarchy. In Two Treatises of Government by John Locke, Locke describes a nation’s government as an institution controlled by citizens. He also proposed that the purpose of …show more content…
A religious society in America called the Quakers challenged the traditional role of organized religion as a result of observing how forcing citizens to conform to one religious institutions violated citizen’s rights and cause turmoil in England. According to a prominent Quaker, William Penn, forcing citizens to join the Church of England infringed on Enlightenment principles of religious freedom (Penn). The French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire shared in Penn’s opinions on favoring religious tolerance over religious conformity. According to Voltaire, a country with only one church was in danger of tyranny, a country with two churches faced the issue of religious conflict, and a church with a variety of religions coexists harmoniously (Dilworth). Quakers also rejected other aspects of organized religion such as sacraments and church hierarchy. By reading and deciphering the Bible themselves (ENLIGHTENMENT), Quakers came to the conclusion that God viewed his subjects as equals regardless of status in the church. They condemned sacraments because the Bible led them to believe that faith and dedication to God was all that was necessary for salvation (Taylor, 94). William Penn formed a community in Pennsylvania based