The Great Awakening

Definition

The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals in the American colonies during the 18th century that emphasized personal faith, emotional experience, and a direct relationship with God. This movement challenged established religious authority and encouraged individuals to seek spiritual renewal, which played a significant role in shaping the landscape of religious freedom in early America.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Awakening led to a surge in new denominations and independent churches, promoting a diversity of religious beliefs.
2. It fostered a sense of shared identity among colonists, transcending regional and denominational lines, which contributed to the early seeds of American nationalism.
3. The movement encouraged the questioning of traditional authority, both in religion and in governance, setting the stage for later revolutionary sentiments.
4. Many African Americans and Native Americans also found new religious expressions through the Great Awakening, highlighting its impact beyond white colonial society.
5. The Great Awakening emphasized individualism in religious practice, which became a key component of American values and contributed to the idea of personal liberty.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Awakening influence individual beliefs about religion in the American colonies?
  • The Great Awakening encouraged individuals to pursue personal faith and emotional experiences over traditional religious authority. This movement led many colonists to question established church doctrines and seek direct connections with God. As a result, people began to emphasize their own beliefs and interpretations of spirituality, fostering a culture where personal conviction became paramount in religious practice.
• Discuss how the Great Awakening contributed to a sense of shared identity among colonists and its implications for governance.
  • The Great Awakening transcended regional and denominational lines, uniting diverse groups under shared religious fervor. This collective experience helped to create a sense of American identity that emphasized liberty and self-governance. The questioning of established authority during this period also laid the groundwork for challenging British rule, as colonists began to assert their rights both in religion and politics.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Great Awakening on religious diversity and individualism in America.
  • The long-term effects of the Great Awakening significantly shaped America's religious landscape by promoting denominational pluralism and individualistic approaches to faith. As new sects emerged and traditional authority was challenged, it set a precedent for ongoing religious experimentation and freedom. This movement not only encouraged personal interpretations of spirituality but also reinforced broader American values of liberty and autonomy, influencing societal norms well into the future.

Related terms

Evangelicalism: A movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the necessity of personal conversion and the authority of the Bible.

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.'

George Whitefield: An influential preacher and evangelist whose powerful preaching style helped to spread the ideas of the Great Awakening across the American colonies.