The American Enlightenment Was The Main Cause Of The Great Awakening

The American Enlightenment was a period of change involving the way of thinking in the thirteen colonies during the eighteenth century. The main reason for this change was to make individuals use reason and logic in order to make decisions, rather than rely on blind faith. The major values were liberty, democracy, republicanism, and religious tolerance. A major figure during the American Enlightenment was Benjamin Franklin. He believed in the movement and decided to help in any way he could. In order to spread the ideas in a quick manner, he came up with the plan to print inexpensive newspapers. Europeans looked over these ideas for a century, while Americans actually put them to use. Another major figure who also believed in this movement …show more content…
This belief is known as Deism. Those who were Arminian or Deists did not believe in miracles and thought that they were outdated superstitions that did not belong in the modern age. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were two of many who were classified as Deists by the late Colonial era. The American Enlightenment caused great reaction including what is known as the Great Awakening, which was a spiritual renewal that became a long term cause of the Revolution. The Great Awakening was a very large occurrence and spread so far that it was also known as the first important event that everyone could share, which helped identify the differences between them. During the Awakening, the colonists discovered that the religious power was in their own hands rather than in the hands of the religious authority. After many years passed and the colonists still did not all share the same beliefs, they did agree on one thing; they all wanted freedom from British control. The Great Awakening had many major figures, including the minister George Whitefield. He had a highly emotional way of preaching and brought it to many