How did politics, the Enlightenment, and religious movements shape public life in the colonies?

“England’s new Bill of Rights was the foundation of government and politics in the colonies.” Boyer page84”. In most colonies, they stated to choose colonial governors and they named a council or upper legislative house. At the beginning, governors and councils drafted laws and they should followed. Then, their job become as Parliament’s House of Commons which represented the people and defended their rights. “Britain’s lack of interest in colonial politics allowed the assemblies to take considerable power”.” Boyer page84”. The lack of interest in colonial politics led to each colonies to become self-governing. The main purpose of self-governing to become more independent which each one regulate trade and printing money. Governors chose some people to serve on councils and as judges in highest courts. The people had the right to vote for the representatives. The vote was for male but all excluded women, black, and Indians from voting. Moreover, in some colonies, voters had to own land in order to vote.

“Enlightenment ideals combined confidence in reason with skepticism about beliefs not based on science or logic”. ” Boyer page84”. It was focusing on rationalism not religious or traditional social. The enlightenment touched most colonists’ belief and influenced them. When the Great Awakening came up, it changed some the Enlightenment’s basic assumptions. It gave women prominence place in colonial religion. Women had right to vote and speak in church meetings and a good example was Anne Hutchinson. Moreover, it gave opportunity to slaves to come to theses meeting. I think the Great Awakening changed the people view of women and slaves, and considered them as big part of the society.