The Great Awakening

Definition

The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century, emphasizing personal faith, emotional experiences, and a direct relationship with God. This movement transformed colonial life by encouraging a spirit of questioning traditional authority, fostering a sense of community, and laying the groundwork for future social and political changes, including the push for independence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Awakening began in the 1730s and lasted into the 1740s, marking a significant shift in religious practice in the colonies.
2. It emphasized individual piety and emotional connections to faith over established church authority and traditional doctrines.
3. The movement led to the establishment of new denominations, such as Methodism and Baptist churches, which promoted a more personal approach to religion.
4. It played a critical role in unifying diverse colonial populations around common spiritual experiences, contributing to a sense of American identity.
5. The Great Awakening's emphasis on questioning authority foreshadowed revolutionary sentiments that would emerge in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Awakening impact social structures within colonial America?
  • The Great Awakening fundamentally altered social structures by promoting a sense of equality among believers, regardless of their social status. With its emphasis on personal faith and emotional experience, it empowered ordinary individuals to challenge traditional religious authorities. This shift not only democratized religion but also fostered communities where diverse groups could come together, contributing to an emerging American identity that valued individual rights and communal bonds.
• Discuss how key figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield influenced the spread of ideas during the Great Awakening.
  • Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were instrumental in spreading ideas of the Great Awakening through their powerful sermons and charismatic preaching styles. Edwards' vivid depictions of hellfire and redemption stirred deep emotions among listeners, while Whitefield's extensive travels brought revivalist messages to vast audiences. Together, they helped popularize the belief in personal conversion and emotional religious experiences, leading to widespread participation in revivals across the colonies.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Great Awakening on American society and its political landscape leading up to the Revolution.
  • The Great Awakening had profound long-term effects on American society, particularly in fostering an environment ripe for revolutionary ideas. By encouraging individuals to question authority—both religious and political—it contributed to a growing sense of independence and self-governance. The movement's emphasis on individual rights and collective identity helped lay the ideological groundwork for resistance against British rule, ultimately influencing key revolutionary principles such as liberty and equality as colonists sought greater autonomy.

Related terms

Jonathan Edwards: A prominent preacher during the Great Awakening known for his fiery sermons, particularly 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which emphasized the need for personal repentance and salvation.

George Whitefield: An influential evangelist during the Great Awakening who traveled extensively across the colonies, attracting large crowds with his charismatic preaching style and promoting a more emotional form of worship.

New Lights vs. Old Lights: A division that arose during the Great Awakening, where 'New Lights' supported the revivalist movements and emotional preaching, while 'Old Lights' adhered to traditional forms of worship and opposed these changes.