The sources of the Great Awakening and its impact on America
The great awakening was caused by the need to boost the church membership (Fogel 25). Apparently, the believers had become complacent and did not follow the church rules and regulations. The Church of England also fought other denominations to become the country’s reigning religion. The Great Awakening was caused by political instability as England tried to impose religious rules in the respective colonies especially in America.
People were drawn to the Great Awakening because of religious issues. The complacency of the people caused a conflict between the church and civil leaders. In addition, people raised concerns over the increased corruption among church leaders. The tedious sermons became a bore to the people. The impact of liberal ideas among the church believers who preferred the use of free-will was a critical factor during the Great Awakening.
The ideas of the Great Awakening, free-will and the liberals had a significant impact on the American colony. From this perspective, a new culture and life was established in America. The Great Awakening had a positive impact on America progress in terms of economy, politics and social developments. Nonetheless, the Great Awakening paved way for church reforms and subsequent interest in emerging denominations. It is through the Great Awakening that political ideology in America was founded on freedom and self-governance. In this regard, the American Revolution and subsequent independence of the country became a reality by 1775 (Fogel 25).
The argument between the Federalists and the Antifederalists
The federalists believed in the power of the constitution. In any case, the constitution was to stabilize the United States especially after the failure of the Articles of Confederation (Fritz 23). Unlike the anti-federalists, the federalists argued that the constitution did not offer too much power to the government. In this context, the constitution provided separation of powers, checks and balance and limited power to the national government.
On the other hand, the anti-federalists did not favour the constitution by arguing that the law could not serve an entire nation. In this regard, the anti-federalists implied that the bill of rights was not added to the original text of the constitution. The disagreements between the federalists and the anti-federalists led to cases of civil war in 1788 (Fritz 43). The resistance of the Rhode Island to the constitution on July 4, 1788 was characterized by armed demonstrations against the federalists. It is alleged that nearly 1000 armed protesters sparked the civil war.
Conditions that gave rise to the early women’s rights movement
The early women rights movement was sparked by agitation for constitutional rights. In this regard, women wanted a ban on all institutional conditions that limited access to human constitutional rights. For example, women wanted freedom to access education and economic opportunities (DuBois 18). In addition, women wanted a fair representation in the country’s political platforms. The reason why women did not get enfranchised at the same time as black men was because of the early attitudes (DuBois 172). Apparently, the early attitudes towards women were oppressive since females were considered as the inferior sex.
In this context, women were viewed as intellectually inferior and their preserve in the society was work in the homesteads. In addition, the legal status of women was based on the myth of the natural inferiority. In this context, since women were predestined to get married it was illegal to own property or business contract. In this context, women were not legally acknowledged under the common laws after the civil war.
Works Cited
DuBois, E. Carol. Feminism and suffrage: the emergence of an independent women’s movement in America, 1848-1869. New York: Cornell University Press, 1999. Print.
Fritz, G. Christian. American Sovereigns: The People and America’s Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print.
Fogel, R. William. The fourth great awakening and the future of egalitarianism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Print.