History 101

HIST 101
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #2:
The Enlightenment and The Great Awakening

In conjunction with chapter 3, this assignment will ask you to read two historical accounts that correspond to American experiences with the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening in the mid-18th century North American colonies. These two social phenomena (the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening) each exerted a significant influence on the development of American political and religious thought in the years leading up to the American War for Independence. This influence can be seen not only within society-at-large, but also among individuals.

Assignment: Read “The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry” (1740) by Gilbert Tennent and Benjamin Franklin’s autobiographical account of his “Pursuit of Moral Perfection” (c.1730s) and answer the following series of questions as short individual answers. ANSWER IN YOUR OWN WORDS, as you EXPLAIN the meaning of his statements. DO NOT SIMPLY REPEAT THE WORDING FROM THE DOCUMENT:

1. How does Franklin create his list (from what source or sources does he draw upon to compile the list)? Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | In order to accomplish his goal for moral perfection, Franklin developed and committed himself to a personal improvement program that consisted of living 13 virtues which he saw as necessary or desirable to him at the time. Franklin’s sources came from various enumerations and numerous different writers. |

2. Explain how Franklin’s approach to the issue of moral improvement reflects BOTH the ideals of the Great Awakening and those of the Enlightenment? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | Franklin’s approach to the issue of moral improvement reflects the ideals of the Great Awakening by Franklin concentrating more on good deeds or his morals ,such as, asking himself "What good shall I do today?" and put a lot of focus on the good that he did. Franklin’s issue of moral improvement also reflected Enlightenment by allowing him look to himself and his own intellect and not just to God by doing self-evaluations. |

3. Why does Franklin list “Temperance” as the first virtue in his list? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | Franklin began his list of virtues with temperance because it was the virtue that would develop the self-discipline necessary to adhere to the other 12 virtues. Temperance calls for a man to avoid overindulgence in food or drink. By conquering your primal urges for food and drink, you’ll have the confidence to start making improvements in other areas of your life. |

4. Explain the meaning of one of the specific metaphors used by Franklin in his description of this process. (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | One of the specific metaphors used by Franklin in his description of this process is of a man who has a garden to weed. He describes the man’s success by working on one bed at a time before moving on to the next. The man works on one bed at a time in order to succeed and move on to the second thereafter, rather than attempting all the beds at once. | 5. How long does Franklin stick to his plan for systematic moral improvement and why does he eventually abandon the project? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | Franklin stuck to his plan consistently for one year, but after it took him several years to finish one course. He eventually abandons the project all together due to many things interfering with project and life such as voyages and business. |

6. Which specific virtue gave Franklin the most difficulty and why? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | The virtue that gave Franklin the most difficulty was Order, partly because Franklin's good memory makes Order not as necessary. He was not accustomed to living by method and routine. Order was difficult for him to acquire with being a sociable man and letting things interfere. |

7. Define the term “itinerant minister” (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | An itinerant minister is one who travels to different churches to minister for one or more services for a relatively short time. These Christian evangelists preach the basic Christian redemption message to those they travel to. |

8. Is Gilbert Tennent making an argument in favor of, or in opposition to, the use of itinerant ministers (in either case, explain why)? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | Gilbert Tennent is making an argument in favor of the use of itinerant ministers. Tennent claimed that anyone who was opposed to the revivals was opposed to the work of God, and therefore lacking of the Spirit of God, and he accused those kinds of people as being hypocrites who did not care for Christ’s people. Tennet also felt the need to argue that only men who had experienced conversion should be ministers. Tennet says “For if the Blind lead the Blind, will they not both fall into the Ditch? In other words, this is like a person trying to explain to someone how it feels to jump out of plane, yet has never experienced it for themselves. |

9. What action does Tennent encourage among congregations led by “dead men” (unconverted ministers), and why? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | The action that Tennent encourages among congregations led by “dead men” is to seek spiritual nurture elsewhere. The reason he encouraged them to do so was so they may change their ways of life and prayer and find redemption. | 10. According to Tennent, who do Pharisees see as the biggest threat to their status or position (and why)? (10 points) Feedback Rubric: |

Type Answer in Expandable Box Located Below: | According to Tennet the Pharisees feared and felt threatened the most by is the righteousness and Gods spirit alone. The Pharisees saw Gods spirit as a threat because they would lose their statues of superiority among the people. |