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The Impact Of The First Great Awakening And The Enlightenment

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During the 1700's two major events would take place, one based in Europe, and one in America, both of which would change ideas and values across these two lands. These two major events in history are known as the First Great Awakening and the Enlightenment. The ideas that were brought forth in this time were revolutionary, and in some ways seem contradictory. While the Great Awakening encouraged a new fervor and zeal to be found in God and only in God the Enlightenment took a step away from God proposing more of a Deist perspective of God or even the abandoning of God completely. The new Enlightenment ideas and influences came mainly from Europe by boat to the Americas, as trade often aided in the sharing of ideas, such as occurred along the Silk Road. While in Europe the Enlightenment would cause division between Christians and enlightenment thinkers, in America there was to be a blending of these ideas among individuals. As for short term affects, the teachings of the Great Awakening had a strong impact on colonists and were quickly and readily accepted in America, however, for the long term it was the Enlightenment thinking that would shape the American mindset so drastically.

Springing up in Europe, the Enlightenment would cause division between church and these Enlightenment thinkers, causing new hatred to fragment those in Europe. Though many great and well known minds of today would rise during this time, men such as Benjamin Franklin, Voltaire, and Thomas Paine,

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