From: Anonymous Seven
Date: 2/16/00
Time: 6:26:30 PM
Remote Name: 170.115.186.210
Anonymous Seven History Assignment # 5 What role did religion play for the patriots in the American Revolution? Religion played a great role for the patriots in the American Revolution. Though it is not exactly certain when religion and civil government began their relationship, the Great Awakening's merger of conduct and scripture were a serious influence. But Americans also found the words of John Locke to be extremely powerful. Many in the colonies believed that the writings of Locke, the great English philosopher, reflected their American politics. The Two Treatises of Government was one of his most influential pieces. Locke's claim is that everyone possesses natural and inalienable rights. These God-given rights such as life, liberty, and property are to be protected by contracts that please the civilians and the government. The patriots found Locke's justification of rebellion against unreasonable government highly relevant to them. With government and religion intertwined they had their sight set on their rights. The Commonwealthman tradition was another idea that the Colonial Americans turned to. Behind the writings of those like the English publicists John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, the colonists came to the conclusion that power was a danger to liberty. Virtue was the weapon to fight back with. This moral outlook saw bad policy not just as human error, more importantly it was an indication of sin and corruption. With the influence of these writings in religion found its place in the revolution. The patriots were ready to fight for their God-given rights.