Final answer:
The Great Awakening is the event that was influenced by tensions between traditionalist and modernist factions, shaping American society's attitudes towards authority and education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that may have been caused because of tensions between traditionalist and modernist factions was B) The Great Awakening. This wave of religious revivalism led to social changes and made American colonists distrustful of institutionalized authority, while being favorably disposed toward education. Both the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment introduced concepts that caused America's educated elite to be wary of efforts to limit their freedoms or diminish the rights of English citizens. These movements underscored the pragmatism of the American people, revealing a fundamental aspect of the developing American society and identity.