Cultural Revolutions
The rise of Individualism and Rationalism
And the Challenge to Authority and Faith:
1400-1770s
The Renaissance and The Reformation 1450-1648:
humanism and individualism undermine scholasticism
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The Renaissance period brought
new ways of thinking to Europe.
Classical writings of Greece and
Rome rediscovered by scholars
Focus starts to shift from religion to
importance of people and human
values
Advances in math and astronomy.
Johannes Gutenberg invents printing
press: allowed thousands to read
same books, share ideas.
Printing press helped spread ideas
of the Reformation during the 16th
century.
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Martin Luther protested the practices of
the Catholic Church in 1517 leading to a
religious reform movement called the
Protestant Reformation.
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Conflict between Catholics and
Protestants in Europe often led to civil
war.
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England (protestant) challenged Spain
(Catholic, leader of CounterReformation) in Americas.
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Long-term impact of Reformation:
1. increasing emphasis on individual
conscience rather than institutional
authority of church, 2. began the
process of religious sectarianism, or,
the splintering of est. churches into a
variety of different denominations
(continues today).
The Pilgrims and Puritans came to America to avoid
religious persecution (see pp 78-80 RCQ p 80)
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Puritans wanted to purify, or reform, the Anglican Church.
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Pilgrims wanted to separate from Anglican Church.
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Some pilgrims left England to escape persecution. They became
immigrants, people who leave the country of their birth to live
in another country.
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Plymouth Colony f. 1620 by Pilgrims
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Many thousands of Puritans left England in Great Migration form
1630-1640; Est. Massachusetts Bay Colony
Conflicts between religious freedom and
religious toleration (see pp 81-83, 1st RCQ p
83).
Massachusetts Bay Theocracy
Dissenters
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Thomas Hooker founded
more democratic
Connecticut
Roger Williams founded
Rhode Island, supported
Church State Separation
Catholic Dissent from Church
of England (see Maryland p
75
English Catholics found
Maryland, 1634
Maryland: Toleration Act,
1649
William Penn, wealthy Quaker, established
the colony of Pennsylvania, 1681.
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Society of Friends, or Quakers, was one of largest
religious groups in New Jersey.
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Quakers, who supported nonviolence and religious
tolerance, were persecuted.
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William Penn founded Pennsylvania, a larger colony
for Quakers that provided a safe home.
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Penn limited his power, est. elected assembly, and
tolerated all Christian sects.
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See p 86 R.C.Q.
The Great Awakening and the Enlightenment led to
ideas of political equality (see pp 94-95, RCQ p 95)
Enlightenment
Great Awakening
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Religious leaders wanted to spread
religious feelings.
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The Great Awakening —a
religious movement that swept the
colonies in the 1730s and 1740s—
changed religion.
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Revivals became popular places to
talk about political and social issues.
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Movement in 1700s that spread
the idea that reason could
improve society
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Also formed ideas on how
government should work, Social
Contract, see p 95
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Philosophers said that people had
natural rights
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These ideas Influenced colonial
leaders