Great Awakening

Definition

The Great Awakening was a religious revival movement that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century, emphasizing personal faith and emotional connection to religion. This movement played a crucial role in reshaping colonial society, promoting ideas of equality, challenging traditional authority, and laying the groundwork for the emergence of a distinct American identity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Awakening began in the 1730s and continued into the 1740s, characterized by emotional preaching and a focus on individual spiritual experience.
2. It encouraged a sense of shared identity among colonists across different regions, leading to increased communication and cooperation between them.
3. The movement led to the rise of new religious denominations and a decline in the power of established churches, such as the Anglican Church.
4. It emphasized ideas of equality and challenged social hierarchies, which resonated with colonists feeling oppressed by British rule.
5. The Great Awakening set the stage for later social movements, including the American Revolution, as it fostered a spirit of questioning authority and pursuing personal freedom.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Awakening impact social structures within colonial society?
  • The Great Awakening had a significant impact on colonial social structures by challenging established religious authorities and promoting egalitarian ideals. As preachers emphasized personal faith over institutional dogma, many individuals felt empowered to question traditional hierarchies. This contributed to a more democratic spirit within colonial society, leading to increased participation in religious and political life among ordinary colonists.
• In what ways did leaders like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield contribute to the spread of the Great Awakening?
  • Leaders like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield played crucial roles in spreading the Great Awakening through their passionate preaching and ability to connect with audiences. Edwards' powerful sermons highlighted personal repentance and the urgency of salvation, while Whitefield's charismatic style drew massive crowds across the colonies. Their efforts not only revived faith but also united diverse groups under common religious themes, significantly shaping American religious life.
• Evaluate how the Great Awakening laid the groundwork for the American Revolution by fostering new political ideas among colonists.
  • The Great Awakening fostered new political ideas among colonists by promoting concepts such as individualism, equality, and questioning authority. As people began to view their relationship with God as personal and direct, they also started to apply similar principles to their political lives. The revival's emphasis on collective experiences and grassroots movements encouraged colonists to resist British control, contributing to revolutionary sentiments that ultimately shaped the American Revolution.

Related terms

Jonathan Edwards:

A prominent preacher during the Great Awakening known for his fire-and-brimstone sermons, including 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which emphasized the need for personal repentance.

George Whitefield:

An influential English evangelist whose powerful preaching drew large crowds and helped to spread the message of the Great Awakening across the colonies.

Methodism: A denomination that emerged from the Great Awakening, focusing on personal piety and social activism, founded by John Wesley in England and gaining popularity in the American colonies.