Great Awakening

Definition

The Great Awakening refers to 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 fostered a spirit of religious enthusiasm and challenged established churches, leading to greater religious diversity and the questioning of traditional authority. The impact of the Great Awakening also paved the way for significant changes in the relationship between religion and governance, influencing ideas about individual rights and freedoms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Awakening occurred in several waves, with significant revivals taking place from the 1730s to the 1770s, often led by charismatic preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.
2. This movement encouraged people to seek personal relationships with God rather than relying solely on clergy or traditional church doctrines, promoting individual interpretation of faith.
3. The Great Awakening contributed to the rise of new denominations, such as Methodism and Baptist churches, which emphasized emotional worship and personal salvation.
4. It played a crucial role in promoting ideas of equality and liberty among believers, which later influenced political thought during the American Revolution.
5. As a response to the Great Awakening, established churches faced competition and had to adapt by modernizing their practices to retain their congregations.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Awakening influence individual beliefs about religion in colonial America?
  • The Great Awakening shifted beliefs toward a more personal experience of faith, encouraging individuals to connect directly with God rather than relying solely on church authorities. Preachers emphasized personal salvation and emotional experiences in worship, leading many to question traditional practices. This focus on individualism in spirituality ultimately fostered a diverse religious landscape where various denominations flourished.
• In what ways did the Great Awakening challenge established churches and affect religious diversity in America?
  • The Great Awakening challenged established churches by promoting a more emotional and experiential form of worship that attracted followers away from traditional denominations. The movement led to the formation of new denominations such as Methodism and Baptists, which were more responsive to personal spiritual needs. As these alternative groups gained popularity, religious diversity increased significantly across the colonies, altering the religious landscape permanently.
• Evaluate how the ideas promoted during the Great Awakening laid the groundwork for political thought leading up to the American Revolution.
  • The Great Awakening's emphasis on individual rights and direct relationships with God paralleled emerging political ideas about liberty and self-governance. As people began to see themselves as equal before God, they also questioned traditional hierarchies in society and government. This shift towards valuing personal agency influenced revolutionary sentiments, as many colonists began advocating for rights such as freedom of expression and representation, setting the stage for revolutionary action against British rule.

Related terms

Evangelicalism: A movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the necessity of personal conversion, faith in Jesus Christ, and the authority of the Bible.

Deism: A philosophical belief that emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, asserting that reason and observation of the natural world are sufficient to determine the existence of a creator without reliance on organized religion.

Revivalism: The practice of organizing large gatherings aimed at reawakening spiritual fervor among believers and converting non-believers, often marked by emotional preaching and community involvement.