The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening
What Is The Great Awakening?What Is The Great Awakening?
From the late 1730s to the 1760s agreat wave of religious enthusiasmswept over large parts of Britain'sNorth American colonies. This outburstof religious fervor set the precedentfor what became a recurrent anddistinctive feature of Americanreligious life: revivalism.From the late 1730s to the 1760s agreat wave of religious enthusiasmswept over large parts of Britain'sNorth American colonies. This outburstof religious fervor set the precedentfor what became a recurrent anddistinctive feature of Americanreligious life: revivalism.
Who Started It?Who Started It?
As far back as the 1720s Theodore Frelinghuysen, leda renewal of religious enthusiasm among New Jerseycongregants of the Dutch Reformed church.As far back as the 1720s Theodore Frelinghuysen, leda renewal of religious enthusiasm among New Jerseycongregants of the Dutch Reformed church.
About the same time, William and Gilbert Tennentspurred a similar revival among New JerseyPresbyteriansAbout the same time, William and Gilbert Tennentspurred a similar revival among New JerseyPresbyterians
In 1734 Jonathan Edwards began preaching apowerful but gloomy message of revival toCongregationalists in the Connecticut River valley.In 1734 Jonathan Edwards began preaching apowerful but gloomy message of revival toCongregationalists in the Connecticut River valley.
The movement swept through all the colonies and wascharacterized by its emphasis on the sinfulness ofhumanity and the need for personal redemptionthrough Jesus Christ.The movement swept through all the colonies and wascharacterized by its emphasis on the sinfulness ofhumanity and the need for personal redemptionthrough Jesus Christ.
George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield
These isolated sparks of religious enthusiasmcaught fire when George Whitefield, anEnglish associate of John Wesley, arrived inGeorgia in 1738.These isolated sparks of religious enthusiasmcaught fire when George Whitefield, anEnglish associate of John Wesley, arrived inGeorgia in 1738.
During his fifteen-month tour of the colonies,Whitefield preached in Charleston,Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.During his fifteen-month tour of the colonies,Whitefield preached in Charleston,Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
Employing a highly emotional speaking style,Whitefield made audiences shed tears ofdespair and joy.Employing a highly emotional speaking style,Whitefield made audiences shed tears ofdespair and joy.
Thousands flocked to his sermons. His impactwas enormous, his method and style widelyimitated.Thousands flocked to his sermons. His impactwas enormous, his method and style widelyimitated.
Who was Included?Who was Included?
The revivals included Baptists,Congregationalists, and Presbyterians.The revivals included Baptists,Congregationalists, and Presbyterians.
It also extended the scope of religion to thepoor, to blacks, who had been spurned by theestablished sects, and to women who wereattracted to the new style of preaching.It also extended the scope of religion to thepoor, to blacks, who had been spurned by theestablished sects, and to women who wereattracted to the new style of preaching.
It also extended to people in newly settledareas and to the many people who had beenexcluded from mainstream establishedchurches.It also extended to people in newly settledareas and to the many people who had beenexcluded from mainstream establishedchurches.
RevivalistsRevivalists
Revivalists themselves differed in emphasisRevivalists themselves differed in emphasis
Some dwelling on the consequences of eternal damnationSome dwelling on the consequences of eternal damnation
Others on the observable effects of sinfulnessOthers on the observable effects of sinfulness
Some on personal salvationSome on personal salvation
Others on the collective transformation that would occur asa result of the events that would culminate in the SecondComing of Jesus.Others on the collective transformation that would occur asa result of the events that would culminate in the SecondComing of Jesus.
But the core of revivalism was belief in the sinfulnessand helplessness of humankind and the possibility ofredemption.But the core of revivalism was belief in the sinfulnessand helplessness of humankind and the possibility ofredemption.
To cleanse oneself of sin, to avoid eternal damnationand win eternal salvation, one had to surrender toGod's will, to identify completely with Jesus Christ.To cleanse oneself of sin, to avoid eternal damnationand win eternal salvation, one had to surrender toGod's will, to identify completely with Jesus Christ.
This decision had to be accompanied by an emotionallywrenching conversion. Such conversion experienceswere elicited by traveling preachers in travelingrevivals, called camp meetings, under tents or in openfields or often in churches provided (sometimesgrudgingly) by regular clergy.This decision had to be accompanied by an emotionallywrenching conversion. Such conversion experienceswere elicited by traveling preachers in travelingrevivals, called camp meetings, under tents or in openfields or often in churches provided (sometimesgrudgingly) by regular clergy.
Questioning the RevivalsQuestioning the Revivals
After initially welcomingWhitefield and his fellowrevivalists, many clergymenbegan having secondthoughts.After initially welcomingWhitefield and his fellowrevivalists, many clergymenbegan having secondthoughts.
Trained in theologicalseminaries and attached tochurches and parishesTrained in theologicalseminaries and attached tochurches and parishes
They perceived travelingrevivalists—many of whomhad no theological trainingand did not depend onwritten texts for theirsermons—as unorthodox,disruptive to regularchurchgoing, and threats toclerical authority.They perceived travelingrevivalists—many of whomhad no theological trainingand did not depend onwritten texts for theirsermons—as unorthodox,disruptive to regularchurchgoing, and threats toclerical authority.
As a result, Presbyterians,Congregationalists, and otherdenominations split into "OldLight" and "New Light"factionsAs a result, Presbyterians,Congregationalists, and otherdenominations split into "OldLight" and "New Light"factions
New sects like the Baptistsand Methodists gained manyadherents.New sects like the Baptistsand Methodists gained manyadherents.
Such divisions reinforced thedivisions in American societybetween established elitesand newer arrivals, town andcountry, debtors andcreditors and the growingtensions brought about bythe spread of the marketeconomy.Such divisions reinforced thedivisions in American societybetween established elitesand newer arrivals, town andcountry, debtors andcreditors and the growingtensions brought about bythe spread of the marketeconomy.
The End…The End…
From the initial wave of fervor in the 1740s,religious enthusiasm ebbed and flowed in thecolonies, finally peaking in Virginia in the1760s.From the initial wave of fervor in the 1740s,religious enthusiasm ebbed and flowed in thecolonies, finally peaking in Virginia in the1760s.
But the disruptions surrounding theRevolution to a large extent displacedreligious obsessions in the mind of the public.But the disruptions surrounding theRevolution to a large extent displacedreligious obsessions in the mind of the public.
Revivalism never completely disappeared,however. It would surface again in thenineteenth century in a Second GreatAwakening.Revivalism never completely disappeared,however. It would surface again in thenineteenth century in a Second GreatAwakening.