How Did Religion Lead To The Rise Of The American Revolution

By 1763, although some colonies still maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. Between the two established churches, in the colonies, Anglican and Congregational, a considerable number of people didn't worship in any church. But in the colonies with a maintained

When the constitution was drafted during the enlightenment period almost everybody was religious. Religion taught people how to live their lives, what views to hold, and how to treat others. It would be only natural for this to influence the constitution as it influenced the founding fathers who wrote it. In my view religion in the enlightenment era greatly influenced the ideals expressed in the writing of the constitution. While not everybody was religious during that period most were as it was considered “socially acceptable”. The founding fathers were held in the public eye therefore they would have at least had to appear religious.

Before the First Great Awakening, a revolution known as the Glorious Revolution of 1688, stopped the fighting between religious and political groups. The Glorious Revolution declared the Church of England the reigning church of the country. Now that all of the colonists were under the same religious rule, religion became a past time or a “go through the motions”

The main dominations of most of the colonies of New England in 1680 to 1760 were Anglicanism and Congregationalism. However, new church movements were created such as Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, and much more. These religions were sometimes called “Dissenters” because they were descendants of Protestantism. There were very many complications within Christianity and an interesting one happened in Salem, Massachusetts.

Religion played a big role in the cause of the American independence movement and eventually the American Revolution. It had such a big role because because, the majority of colonists were associated with some form of Christianity. Christianity encourages its members to be free and that those who are faithful to Him, God will set free, from tyrants, oppressors, and other forms of enemies. Another way it had such a big role in causing the American Independence movement, and revolution, is that Pastors, in sermons that they preached, encouraged the colonists to fight for their freedom and that God wanted them to fight. This pushed many people to choose a side and mostly to choose the side of the Patriots. This is also seen in the sermons of many

The Great awakening inspired the growth of the church community branching off into sects to meet the ever expanding colonial population; thus, increasing the number of churches in colonial america. Likewise, paving the way for the emergence of lower churches such as the Baptist who sought to overturn aristocratic rule. Also, this impacted the increased development of colleges to meet the demand of having to train new ministers in the ministry. Additionally, the Great awakening made allowances for Enlightenment idealism in conjunction with religion. Furthermore, the Great Awakening was considered to be the precursor to the American Revolution as it severed its religious ties to the Church of England; thus, a declination of religious authority and its long standing

The chaotic times of disagreement between religious and political groups in the late 17th century came to a grinding halt in the year of 1688 during the Glorious Revolution. During this year the Church of England was established as the reigning church of the country. Religions, such as Catholicism, Judaism and Puritanism were later suppressed. Politically, this could mean stability. Instead, spirituality and religion became somewhat monotonous and dry to believers. It began to become a routine without much connection or cognition. After a while of this complacency, a spiritual revival crossed over to the American colonies during the first half of the 18th century. This was the beginning of something great in the eyes of

After the Revolutionary War ended, a rebellion against the church began during the 1730s, known as the Great Awakening. This Awakening transformed the topography of the European Religious culture. Americans wanted a religion that was compatible with their way of life. During the era of the Revolution, the most substantial denominations were the Quakers, the Congregationalists, and the Anglicans. After America’s liberation from the tyranny of the British Crown and religious ideology of predestination, they wanted to associated themselves with a religion that gave them more control over their destination. Americans adopted the freedom of choice allowing them to accept or reject God’s salvation for themselves.

During this time, though, religion was more prominent than ever. From my previous knowledge about religion in America, this was a time during which Christianity was going through a revival phase and was being debated as to which version was the “true” and “correct” one. The American revolution was a main cause in these religious revivals, what is also known today as the Second Great Awakening. This Awakening led to a huge change in American religious ideals. It became more acceptable to be pious than it was to be an atheist or agnostic.

The American Revolution was a colonial revolt that took place between 1765 and 1783. There were political, economic, and cultural causes of the revolution. In a nutshell, the British wanted to make as much money as possible out of the 13 Colonies. Great Britain was the “mother country”. Many of the colonists came from Great Britain, so they shared the same ideals as the king.

When settlers first arrived in the United States religious freedom was a priority. However, the freedom they sought was only extended to their own particular religion instead of universally. The entire community went to church and participated in religious activities (Source A). The entire society was based around the church and it’s teachings. The Puritans were the most prevalent

“…The American Revolution is inconceivable in the absence of the context of ideas which have constituted Christianity. The leaders of the Revolution in every colony were imbued with the precepts of the Reformed faith” (Amos, Gardiner, & Dembski). The founding of America was affected by many events in history—events and religious teachings such as the Enlightenment and Rutherford’s Lex Rex. There were many trials for Christians in England. However, these troubles impacted the Founders of America, spurring them on toward independence. Such occasions were the Reformation, two revolutions which took place in England during the beginnings of America, and finally, the flight of Puritans and the Great Awakening that occurred in America. These historical events in the Christian Church were part of the prompting which led to America’s

During the mid-1700s, the British had incurred an extensive amount of debt. This debt was the result of British participation in the French and Indian War. Because Britain had protected the colonies during the war, Britain believed the colonies should be responsible for the reparations. Also, “King George III refused to disband the large standing British army stationed in North America” (Bixby, Sugar Act of 1764), so the only alternative was to tax the colonists. The British levied numerous taxes on the colonies throughout the mid to late 1700s which angered the colonists greatly and eventually led to the American Revolution.

The issues between the church and state contributed the American Revolution. Americans saw “the English church and crown both as hopelessly corrupt and as an imminent threat to subvert by their influence the religious superstructure of America” (Corrigan 94). Churches that focused on the individual had a better chance of surviving in America. Churches were not allowed to receive support from the state. Also, the state could not control religious institutions. The state essentially had to remain neutral to religions, because

It is easy to interpret the American Revolution simply as a struggle for freedom. The magnanimous phrases of the Declaration of Independence have embedded in our hearts and minds glorious images of the Founding Fathers fighting for the natural rights of man. The American Revolution, however, also had a darker side to it, the side of self-interest and profit. The signers of the Declaration represented various classes – the working class, the wealthy land owners and merchants, the intellectuals, and the social elite. Each of these strata had its own set of expectations and fears, which lent a new dimension to the cause of the Revolution. The pressure of these internal, and often overlapping groups, combined with the oppressive external