Unit III: The Enlightenment and Its Impact on Colonists

The intellectual life in colonial America was shaped by the clash between traditional beliefs emphasizing God's role in
individual lives and the revolutionary ideas of the Enlightenment, which emphasized the importance of science and
reason. The traditional perspective valued a strict moral code, where faith took precedence over intellect, as seen in
the context of the Salem Witchcraft trials. In contrast, the Enlightenment promoted the idea that individuals had
control over their lives and societies. This intellectual movement was influenced by scientific and intellectual
discoveries in Europe during the 17th century, which unveiled the "natural laws" governing nature. The newfound
scientific knowledge inspired many thinkers to embrace the power of human reason and argue that rational thought,
not just religious faith, could drive progress and knowledge. The Enlightenment encouraged people to believe in the
force of their intellect in managing and shaping societies, leading to an increased interest in education, politics, and
government. Initially, Enlightenment ideas in America were largely adopted from European thinkers such as Francis
Bacon, John Locke, Baruch Spinoza, René Descartes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. However, American intellectuals
like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison made their own contributions to
Enlightenment thought.

During the 18th century, a significant portion of white male Americans achieved high literacy rates, with over half of
them being able to read and write by the time of the Revolution. This created a market for publications beyond the
Bible, with almanacs becoming popular. Almanacs offered medical advice, navigation and agricultural information,
practical wisdom, and humor. Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, published in Philadelphia, was particularly
renowned. The spread of printing technology facilitated the availability of reading material. Printing presses were
established in the colonies, surpassing the number in England by 1695. This increasing literacy in colonial society
fueled the demand for books, pamphlets, and almanacs, leading to the growth of a newspaper industry. One
significant indication of the Enlightenment's influence in America was the rising interest in scientific knowledge. Early
colleges established chairs in the natural sciences and introduced advanced scientific theories from Europe, such as
Copernican astronomy and Newtonian physics, to students. However, the most vigorous promotion of science came
from private individuals and scientific societies. In law and politics, Americans aimed to replicate the practices and
institutions of the Old World but ended up creating distinct systems. While the American legal system incorporated
essential elements from England, there were notable differences in court procedures, punishments, and the
definition of crimes. For instance, in England, a printed attack on a public official, regardless of its veracity, was
considered libelous. However, in the 1734–1735 trial of John Peter Zenger, a New York publisher, it was ruled that
government criticisms were not libelous if factually true, removing some colonial restrictions on press freedom.

Due to the distant royal government, Americans established institutions that granted them a significant degree of
self-government. Local communities in most colonies became accustomed to managing their affairs with minimal
interference from higher authorities. Colonial assemblies assumed powers similar to those exercised by the English
Parliament. Although provincial governors appointed by the king held broad powers on paper, their actual influence
was limited. Consequently, provincial governments grew accustomed to acting independently from Parliament.
These differences caused few problems until the 1760s when the British government attempted to tighten control
over the American colonies. This led to a significant crisis as the colonies resisted the increased authority imposed by
the motherland.