Mr. L APUSH - The First Great Awakening (updated)

Summary

The Great Awakening, spanning 1730-1770 in the American colonies, was a significant religious revival that challenged traditional religious authority and sparked a wave of conversions to Christianity. It was a reaction to the Enlightenment, emphasizing human reason over religious dogma. Key figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield played pivotal roles with their powerful preaching styles. The movement divided the colonies into 'New Lights,' who embraced emotionalism and questioned colonial authority, and 'Old Lights,' who favored traditional practices. The Awakening led to new universities, increased religious diversity, and laid the groundwork for the American Revolution by advocating for separation of church and state and freedom of speech.

Takeaways

• 🕍 The Great Awakening was a religious revival in the American colonies from 1730 to the 1770s, with the most prominent period in the 1730s and 1740s.
• 🌟 It was a reaction against the Enlightenment, emphasizing a return to religious fervor and challenging traditional religious authority.
• 📚 The revival was facilitated by the spread of print culture, allowing ideas from Europe to reach the American colonies.
• 🔄 There was a shift from Puritan beliefs in predestination to a belief in salvation for all, leading to increased evangelicalism.
• 🤝 Key figures of the Great Awakening included Jonathan Edwards, known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God', and George Whitefield, an itinerant preacher with a charismatic style.
• 🌐 Edwards and Whitefield were influential, with Whitefield traveling extensively across the colonies, while Edwards was based in New England.
• 💡 The Great Awakening saw the rise of 'New Lights', who supported the revival and its progressive views, and 'Old Lights', who were against it and favored traditional practices.
• 🏛 New Light supporters began to question colonial authority and the need for democratic views in society, contrasting with Old Light resistance to change.
• 🏫 The revival led to the founding of new universities, such as Dartmouth, Princeton, and Brown, and increased religious diversity.
• 🌱 It also saw more African Americans converting to Christianity and participating in religious life.
• 🔥 The Great Awakening helped to plant the seeds for the American Revolution and the push for independence from Britain, influenced by Enlightenment ideals.

Q & A

What was the Great Awakening?

The Great Awakening was a progressive religious revival that spread throughout the English colonies in the Americas from 1730 to the 1770s, with the most prominent period being the 1730s through the 1740s. It was a revival of religious sentiments and increased importance in Christianity.

How is the Great Awakening connected to the Enlightenment?

The Great Awakening was a reaction to the Enlightenment, which emphasized human reason and thinking over religious beliefs. The print culture allowed for the spread of Enlightenment ideas in the colonies, challenging traditional religious authority and leading to a revival of religious fervor.

What was the role of evangelicalism in the Great Awakening?

Evangelicalism played a significant role in the Great Awakening by promoting a direct relationship with the Bible and encouraging individuals to spread the gospel. It led to a belief in salvation for all and a decrease in the importance of predestination and traditional religious practices.

Who were the two key figures of the Great Awakening?

The two key figures of the Great Awakening were Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. Edwards is credited with starting the revival with his sermons, most notably 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' while Whitefield introduced a new, energetic style of evangelical preaching.

What was the significance of Jonathan Edwards' sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'?

Jonathan Edwards' sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' was significant as it combined fire and brimstone with Enlightenment ideas, creating a powerful and almost scary sermon that contributed to the religious revival and challenged traditional religious authority.

How did George Whitefield's preaching style differ from Jonathan Edwards'?

George Whitefield differed from Jonathan Edwards by being an 'itinerary preacher,' traveling extensively across the eastern seaboard. He believed that ordinary people could have profound religious experiences without the need for ministers, which was a departure from Edwards' more localized influence in New England.

What were the characteristics of the New Lights in the Great Awakening?

The New Lights were supporters of the Great Awakening who believed in emotionalism, a less traditional approach to religion, and the importance of democracy. They questioned colonial authority and were more progressive in their religious views.

What were the characteristics of the Old Lights in the Great Awakening?

The Old Lights were against the Great Awakening, resisting emotionalism and favoring traditional religious practices. They believed in maintaining the religious status quo as it was during the earlier colonial periods.

What were some of the impacts of the Great Awakening?

The impacts of the Great Awakening included the formation of new light universities, the emergence of more branches of Christianity, increased religious diversity, and the conversion of more African Americans. It also led to the first unifying experience for the colonists and strengthened calls for separation of church and state.

How did the Great Awakening contribute to the American Revolution?

The Great Awakening contributed to the American Revolution by fostering a sense of unity among the colonists, promoting democratic ideals, and challenging colonial authority. These developments laid the groundwork for the later calls for independence from Great Britain.