• Only about 1 in 7 in the North belonged to a church– Smaller ratio in the South

• Anglican Church- – Official religion of VA, MD (as of 1692), Carolinas, GA, and parts of

NY

– Established the college of William and Mary in 1693 to train ministers

– Weakened by lack of Bishops in New World

• Congregational Church-– Grew out of the Puritan Church

– Prominent in New England

– Initially all citizens of a community supported church through taxes regardless of faith

• Eventually non-members exempted from tax

Religion in the ColoniesReligion in the Colonies

• Presbyterian Church-– Closely associated with Congregational Church (both were Calvinists)

– Difference was that Presbyterians believed that all Presbyterian churches constituted a unified body

• Quakers-– Large numbers in PA, NJ, DE, and RI

– Believed in “inner light” concept which caused them to Quake during worship

– Pacifists who hated New England slave trade; 1st real abolitionists in colonies

• Jews– 1st Jews arrived in mid 1600’s; located in RI, NY, PA, MD, and SC

– Approximately 1,500 in colonies by mid 1700’s

Religion in the ColoniesReligion in the Colonies

• Presbyterian Church-– Closely associated with Congregational Church (both were Calvinists)

– Difference was that Presbyterians believed that all Presbyterian churches constituted a unified body

• Quakers-– Large numbers in PA, NJ, DE, and RI

– Believed in “inner light” concept which caused them to Quake during worship

– Pacifists who hated New England slave trade; 1st real abolitionists in colonies

• Jews– 1st Jews arrived in mid 1600’s; located in RI, NY, PA, MD, and SC

– Approximately 1,500 in colonies by mid 1700’s

Religion in the ColoniesReligion in the Colonies

• Presbyterian Church-– Closely associated with Congregational Church (both were Calvinists)

– Difference was that Presbyterians believed that all Presbyterian churches constituted a unified body

• Quakers-– Large numbers in PA, NJ, DE, and RI

– Believed in “inner light” concept which caused them to Quake during worship

– Pacifists who hated New England slave trade; 1st real abolitionists in colonies

• Jews– 1st Jews arrived in mid 1600’s; located in RI, NY, PA, MD, and SC

– Approximately 1,500 in colonies by mid 1700’s

Religion in the ColoniesReligion in the Colonies

The Great Awakening

• 1st mass social movement in American Colonies

• Primarily in the Southern and middle colonies

• Religion in America had become more liberal over the decades

• Great Awakening was a movement back towards a more conservative style of religion

The Great Awakening

• Arminianism: Directly challenged Calvinism’s predestination doctrine and was supported increasingly by liberal ministers – Stated man is not helpless in achieving

salvation; his will can be an effective force in his being saved

The Great Awakening

Jonathon Edwards• Credited with starting the great

awakening in 1734

• Very influential theologian and writer

• Blasted the idea of salvation through free will (arminianism); dependence on

– God's grace is paramount

• Emphasized eternal damnation

• Style was learned and reasoned; not emotional like other "new lights"

The Great Awakening

George Whitefield• Englishman who traveled

extensively throughout the colonies

• Gave rousing speeches and drew large crowds

• Created Methodism in GA and SC

• Most influential figure in Great Awakening

• Referred to the Bible

The Great Awakening

• 1st mass social movement in American Colonies

• Primarily in the Southern and middle colonies

• Religion in America had become more liberal over the decades

• Great Awakening was a movement back towards a more conservative style of religion