Great Awakening

Definition

The Great Awakening refers to a series of religious revivals that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century, characterized by widespread enthusiasm for religion and a movement towards a more personal and emotional connection with faith. These revivals challenged established religious authorities and emphasized individual spiritual experiences, leading to the growth of new denominations and a shift in the religious landscape of colonial America.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Awakening occurred in the 1730s to 1740s and was marked by itinerant preachers traveling to spread their message.
2. Key figures like George Whitefield played a significant role in these revivals, using their charismatic preaching styles to attract large crowds.
3. The movement led to the formation of new denominations, including Methodists and Baptists, who emphasized personal faith over established church authority.
4. The Great Awakening encouraged religious pluralism and greater tolerance among different Christian sects, contributing to a shift in social dynamics.
5. It also laid the groundwork for future social movements in America by promoting ideas of individual rights and questioning traditional authority.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Awakening influence religious practices in colonial America?
  • The Great Awakening significantly transformed religious practices in colonial America by promoting a more personal and emotional relationship with faith. It emphasized individual conversion experiences over traditional rituals and church authority, leading many people to seek direct connections with God. This shift encouraged greater participation in religious activities and gave rise to new denominations that focused on personal faith.
• Discuss the impact of key figures like George Whitefield on the spread of the Great Awakening.
  • George Whitefield was a central figure in the Great Awakening, known for his powerful and passionate preaching that drew enormous crowds. His ability to engage listeners emotionally and his emphasis on personal salvation helped fuel the revivalist movement across the colonies. Whitefield's travels and sermons not only spread the ideas of the Great Awakening but also helped unify different groups within the movement, making it a significant force in shaping American religious life.
• Evaluate how the Great Awakening set the stage for subsequent social movements in American history.
  • The Great Awakening laid important foundations for future social movements by promoting values of individual rights, personal liberty, and questioning established authority. The revivalist spirit encouraged people to think critically about their beliefs and societal norms, which would later manifest in movements for abolition, women's rights, and other social justice issues. This change in perspective fostered a culture of activism that would be crucial in shaping America's social landscape over the ensuing centuries.

Related terms

Revivalism: A movement within Christianity that emphasizes personal conversion experiences and often includes emotional worship and outreach efforts.

Evangelicalism: A branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the authority of the Bible, the necessity of personal conversion, and active expression of faith through evangelism.

Jonathan Edwards: An influential preacher during the Great Awakening known for his fiery sermons, including 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which highlighted themes of sin and salvation.