Did the first colonist have religious reasons for founding colonies in North America? What do you imagine a church service in colonial America was like?

Today students will examine the Great Awakening in England’s colonies in order to determine how it changed the identity of the colonies.

Religion in the Colonies

Pilgrims Separatists from the Church of England, known as Pilgrims, sailed to the new world on the Mayflower. They reached Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts in 1620.

Pilgrims’ Beliefs Predestination Infant Baptism Did not celebrate Christmas or Easter Did not work or play on Sundays Marriage was considered a civil union not a religious one

Puritans The Puritans arrived shortly after the Pilgrims. They were more moderate and sought to “purify” the Church of England instead of separate from it like the Pilgrims. They wanted to establish model churches in the “new world” in a colony established by a royal charter.

Puritan Lifestyles “Rules” for pure living –No horseracing –No sports on Sunday (even going for a walk) –No dancing or singing –No drunkenness or swearing –No gathering without permission –No gambling

Quakers The Quakers, also known as the “Society of Friends,” was Founded by George Fox in the 17 th century. Members believe that all people have an “inner light.” Were unable to practice their religion freely in Britain Many came to the New World and settled in Pennsylvania under the leadership of William Penn. Both Pennsylvania and Delaware became havens for Quakers from all over Europe.

Religions in Colonial America Most colonists were Protestants seeking religious freedom. –South: Anglican –Middle: Quakers, Lutherans –New England: Congregationalist (Puritan) Catholics could be found in Maryland. Jewish populations could be found in some cities.

Some Ministers in Colonial America felt that as life improved…people were softening their strict religious practices and moving away from god. How do teachers and administrators react when a class that had been well behaved becomes disruptive? Based on this how might ministers in the colonies have reacted to the colonists’ “softening” in their attention to religion?

The Great Awakening Reasons for The Great Awakening The effects of The Awakening

Reasons for The Great Awakening People felt that religion was dry, dull and distant Preachers felt that people needed to be concerned with inner emotions as opposed to outward religious behavior People in New England can read and interrupt the Bible on their own

Great Awakening Goals and Methods Revival of religious feelings in the colonies and in Europe beginning in the 1740s Ministers focused on reviving a sense of enthusiasm and excitement about religion in their congregations. –Young people were especially excited about the refocus of their lives on God. Famous leaders of the Great Awakening, often traveled throughout the colonies and preached in churches where they were welcomed. –Sometimes they were not welcomed by churches and spoke to small crowds in barns!

The Great Awakening gave colonists a shared national religious experience

Ideas behind the Great Awakening All Christians have the ability to forge a relationship with God. People do not have to be well-educated or wealthy to access and understand the Bible. Although God was powerful and exalted, He was not out of reach of the average person.

Effects of the Great Awakening Baptist and Methodist churches grew in popularity. –Both religions celebrate common people. The Great Awakening showed people that God was not superior to any earthy king or leader. –People began to feel that they did not need to depend on leaders and trust them blindly because God was their true ruler. –They also developed a sense of equality among colonists. Religions became more tolerant of each other as religious diversity grew.

Effects of the Great Awakening Encouraged ideas of equality and right to challenge authority Birth of charity and charitable organizations The role of preacher, god, and bible change

Effects of the Great Awakening Great surge of literacy in the colonies Newspapers and book publications increase Schools are synonymous with new towns and villages

Effects of the Great Awakening People are born with natural rights Government has an obligation to protect those natural rights Kings have no right to govern people, people empower government Leads to freedom of religion and the constitution