The Great Awakening [APUSH Review]

Summary

In this episode of 'Homeless History,' we delve into the Great Awakening, an 18th-century religious movement that swept through the American colonies. The video explores the religious landscape of the time, highlighting the Congregationalists of New England and the Anglicans of other colonies. It discusses how religious fervor waned over generations, setting the stage for revival. Key figures like Jonathan Edwards, known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' and George Whitefield, an itinerant preacher, are featured. Their powerful preaching styles ignited a spiritual fire, unifying the colonies under a shared religious experience and identity.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Great Awakening was a significant religious movement in the 18th-century American colonies, marking a revival of religious fervor.
• 🏛️ New England colonies were predominantly Congregationalist, while other colonies like New York and Maryland were Anglican, and some had no state-supported church.
• 📉 Over time, the religious intensity of the colonists waned, with ministers feeling their congregations had become complacent and less fearful of divine judgment.
• 🔥 The Great Awakening began in the 1730s and 1740s, primarily in Northampton, Massachusetts, with Jonathan Edwards being a key figure.
• ⭐️ Jonathan Edwards was known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which was influential in igniting the revival, despite its terrifying message.
• 😇 Edwards also preached on the joy of Christianity, emphasizing happiness and hope in his sermon 'Christian Happiness,' which contrasted with his more famous fiery sermons.
• 🌟 George Whitefield, an itinerant English preacher, played a crucial role in spreading the Great Awakening across the American colonies with his emotive preaching style.
• 😢 Whitefield's preaching led to intense emotional responses from his listeners, including crying, barking, and other fervent displays of religious experience.
• 🇺🇸 The Great Awakening was America's first mass movement, unifying the diverse colonies under a shared religious experience and fostering a sense of common identity.
• 📖 Whitefield's sermon 'The Almost Christian' further illustrates the emotional appeal and the call to a deeper commitment to faith that characterized the Great Awakening.

Q & A

What is the Great Awakening?

The Great Awakening was a significant Christian revival movement that occurred in the 18th-century American colonies, characterized by an increase in religious enthusiasm and a renewed commitment to personal salvation.

How did the religious fervor in the New England colonies change over time?

The religious fervor in the New England colonies began to wane as new generations grew up, leading to a decline in the intensity of religious commitment and a perceived 'softening' of the congregations.

Who was Jonathan Edwards and what is he known for?

Jonathan Edwards was a prominent preacher during the Great Awakening, known for his powerful sermons that resonated with the people and ignited a spiritual revival. His most famous sermon is 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.'

What is the message of Edwards' sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'?

The sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' emphasizes the terrifying nature of God's wrath towards sinners, using vivid imagery to evoke a sense of urgency and repentance among listeners.

What is the contrast between Edwards' sermons 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' and 'Christian Happiness'?

While 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' focuses on the fear of divine judgment, 'Christian Happiness' centers on the joy and happiness that can be found in Christian faith, suggesting that believers can find happiness in the assurance of God's favor.

Who was George Whitefield and what was his role in the Great Awakening?

George Whitefield was an English itinerant preacher who played a significant role in the Great Awakening by traveling extensively and delivering emotionally charged sermons that moved listeners to repentance and spiritual renewal.

Why was Whitefield's preaching style effective despite his physical appearance?

Whitefield's preaching style was effective because of his ability to deeply move his audience with his words, despite his physical appearance, which included a 'crazy eye' from a childhood illness.

What was the impact of the Great Awakening on the American colonies?

The Great Awakening had a unifying effect on the American colonies, creating a sense of shared experience and common identity among the diverse population, which was previously fragmented by regional and religious differences.

What is the significance of the Great Awakening as a mass movement in American history?

The Great Awakening is significant as it was one of the first mass movements in American history, demonstrating the potential for large-scale social and religious change and setting a precedent for future movements.

What is the message of George Whitefield's sermon 'The Almost Christian'?

In 'The Almost Christian,' Whitefield emphasizes the importance of complete commitment to God, suggesting that any degree of piety neglected or act of devotion omitted could hinder one's spiritual growth and ultimate enjoyment of God's presence.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 The Great Awakening and Religious Revival in Colonial America

This paragraph discusses the Great Awakening, a significant religious movement in the 18th-century American colonies. It highlights the religious diversity among the colonies, with Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire being predominantly Congregationalist, while New York, Maryland, and others were Anglican. The paragraph emphasizes the decline in religious fervor over time and the emergence of the Great Awakening in the 1730s and 40s, led by preachers like Jonathan Edwards. Edwards is known for his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which, despite its terrifying imagery, was effective in resonating with the people and igniting a spiritual revival. The paragraph also contrasts this with Edwards' earlier sermon on Christian happiness, suggesting a more balanced view of his preaching. The Great Awakening is portrayed as a unifying force among the diverse American colonies, providing a shared experience and identity.

05:00

🌟 The Impact of the Great Awakening on American Identity

The second paragraph delves into the broader implications of the Great Awakening, describing it as the first mass movement that brought a sense of unity and common identity to the American people. It contrasts the fragmented nature of the colonies, each with its own distinct goals and directions, with the unifying effect of the religious revival led by preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield. Whitfield's emotive preaching style, despite his physical peculiarity, moved crowds to tears and marked a significant cultural and religious phenomenon. The paragraph concludes with an excerpt from Whitfield's sermon 'The Almost Christian,' which underscores the emotional appeal and spiritual yearning that characterized the Great Awakening, further solidifying its role in shaping a collective American consciousness.

Keywords

💡Great Awakening

The Great Awakening refers to a series of religious revivals that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century, particularly the 1730s and 1740s. It was a time of intense religious fervor, marked by widespread preaching, conversions, and a renewed commitment to piety and spirituality. In the video, the Great Awakening is portrayed as a unifying movement that sparked a sense of shared identity among the diverse American colonies, as people from different backgrounds were moved by the powerful preaching of figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.

💡Congregationalists

Congregationalists are members of a denomination of Protestant Christians that emphasizes the autonomy of individual congregations. In the context of the video, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire were predominantly Congregationalist, indicating a religious culture that valued local church governance and the freedom of individual congregations to manage their own affairs. This is contrasted with other colonies that had state-supported churches, highlighting the diversity of religious practices in the American colonies.

💡Anglican

Anglicanism, or the Church of England, is a branch of Christianity that is part of the Anglican Communion. The video mentions that New York, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were predominantly Anglican, which signifies a religious tradition closely tied to the English crown and its established church. This is contrasted with the more independent religious practices found in other colonies, such as those that were Congregationalist or had no state-supported church.

💡Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards was a prominent American theologian and preacher during the First Great Awakening. Known for his powerful sermons, Edwards is often associated with the sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' which is described in the video as terrifying and effective in its call for repentance. However, the video also highlights another of his sermons, 'Christian Happiness,' which presents a more positive and joyful message, suggesting a balance in Edwards' preaching style that aimed to inspire both fear and love of God.

💡George Whitefield

George Whitefield was an English Anglican cleric who became a key figure in the Great Awakening. As an itinerant preacher, he traveled extensively, preaching in various settings, including fields and streets, and was known for his ability to move crowds emotionally. The video describes Whitefield's preaching as having a profound impact on listeners, with his sermons often evoking strong reactions such as weeping and other displays of religious fervor.

💡Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

This is one of Jonathan Edwards' most famous sermons, mentioned in the video as a prime example of his powerful and terrifying preaching style. The sermon uses vivid imagery to describe the precarious state of sinners and the wrath of God, which, according to the video, resonated deeply with his audience and contributed to the religious revival of the Great Awakening. It is used in the script to illustrate the emotional intensity of Edwards' message and its role in stirring a spiritual awakening.

💡Christian Happiness

This sermon by Jonathan Edwards is highlighted in the video as a counterpoint to the more famous 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.' In 'Christian Happiness,' Edwards argues that Christians should be happy because their sufferings will ultimately lead to good, their blessings are secure, and the best is yet to come. The video uses this sermon to show the more positive and hopeful aspects of Edwards' theology, which aimed to inspire joy and gratitude in his followers.

💡Itinerant Preacher

An itinerant preacher is a religious leader who travels from place to place to preach, often without a fixed congregation. George Whitefield is described in the video as an itinerant preacher, which allowed him to reach a wide audience and contribute to the spread of the Great Awakening. This contrasts with preachers like Jonathan Edwards, who preached primarily within a single congregation, and underscores the different approaches to spreading religious revival during this period.

💡Religious Ferment

Religious ferment refers to a period of intense religious activity, often characterized by a surge in religious enthusiasm and a quest for spiritual renewal. The video describes the waning of religious fervor among the colonists before the Great Awakening, which set the stage for the revivalist movement led by preachers like Edwards and Whitefield. The term encapsulates the dynamic and transformative nature of the religious experiences during this period.

💡Pulpit

The pulpit is the raised platform in a church from which the sermon is delivered. In the video, the pulpit is mentioned as the place where ministers would deliver their messages, with some being criticized for their dull and uninspiring preaching. The pulpit serves as a symbol of the religious leadership and the central role of preaching in the Great Awakening, where powerful sermons could captivate and transform listeners.

💡Shared Experience

A shared experience refers to an event or circumstance that is collectively experienced or participated in by a group of people. The video emphasizes the Great Awakening as a shared experience that helped to forge a sense of unity and common identity among the American people. This shared religious revival transcended regional and denominational differences, contributing to a broader sense of American identity during a time when the colonies were otherwise quite diverse and fragmented.

Highlights

Introduction to the Great Awakening, a significant religious movement in the 18th-century American colonies.

The New England colonies were established as religious havens, leading to a diverse range of Christian denominations.

Religious fervor among colonists began to decline over time, with ministers becoming concerned about the 'softness' of their congregations.

The Great Awakening, starting in the 1730s and 40s, was a response to the waning religious passion and sought to reignite it.

Jonathan Edwards, a preacher from Northampton, Massachusetts, is credited with initiating the Great Awakening with his powerful sermons.

Edwards' sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' is infamous for its terrifying depiction of divine wrath.

Despite his reputation, Edwards also preached on the joy of Christianity, as seen in his sermon 'Christian Happiness'.

George Whitfield, an itinerant English preacher, played a crucial role in spreading the Great Awakening across the colonies.

Whitfield's emotive preaching style moved crowds to tears and was said to be so powerful that it could make people weep with just a word.

The Great Awakening represented the first mass movement in America, unifying the population through shared religious experience.

The movement helped to create a sense of common identity among the American people, despite the differences between the colonies.

The impact of the Great Awakening was not just religious but also social, as it helped to shape a collective American identity.

The sermon 'The Almost Christian' by George Whitfield encapsulates the emotional appeal and spiritual longing of the Great Awakening.

Whitfield's call for a deeper commitment to holiness and piety resonated with many, reflecting the movement's emphasis on personal spiritual growth.

The Great Awakening's legacy is seen in the enduring influence it had on American religious and cultural life.

Transcripts

welcome back to homeless history today

we're going to talk about Jesus

specifically that great religious

movement that occurred in the 18th

century colonies known as the Great

Awakening

time to kick it old school now you'll

recall that the New England colonies

were very religious seeing as how they

were established as religious havens for

those who wanted to worship freely if by

diversity you mean different flavors of

Christianity and I do okay here's how it

broke down Massachusetts Connecticut and

New Hampshire were all

Congregationalists Christians New York

Maryland North Carolina South Carolina

and Georgia were all Anglican which is

to say Church of England and then you've

got the people of Rhode Island New

Jersey Delaware and Pennsylvania who had

no state supported Church but were still

plenty religious now as it often goes

the religious fervor of the colonists

began to wane as time went on and new

generations grew up it wasn't uncommon

to hear a parishioner talk about the

dead dog drowning in the pulpit about

whatever he was drowning on and on about

and the minister got upset because their

people had gone soft and they were no

longer terrified by the fiery threat of

hell anymore so the stage is set for

what was perhaps America's greatest

Christian revival namely the Great

Awakening it began in the 1730's and 40s

in Northampton Massachusetts under the

preaching of the greatest preacher that

America has ever produced

Jonathan Edwards now if you've ever

heard his name before you probably

associate it with his most famous sermon

sinners in the hands of an angry god and

because of that Edwards has gotten the

reputation in American history as some

kind of hellfire and brimstone preacher

who just wanted to scare the poo out of

everyone who was listening to him so

that they believed in Jesus and okay

first of all I'm not going to deny that

sinners in the hands of an angry god is

altogether terrifying and poo inducing

for example here's one of the most

famous passages in the sermon in which

he addresses sinners directly the God

that holds you over the pit of hell much

as one holds a spider or some loathsome

insect over a fire abhors you and is

dreadfully provoked his wrath towards

you

burns like fire and he looks upon you as

worthy of nothing else but to be cast

into the fire okay that's scary but it

was also effective and powerful and

beautiful and the people to whom Edwards

was preaching they were not used to

hearing appeals to their hearts and it

resonated with them and they repented

and a fire got lit in their guts and

they were filled with zeal now if that's

the only Edwards sermon you've ever

heard indulge me for a second because I

just have to introduce you to one other

one that might balance sinners in the

hands of an angry god out in fact this

was the first sermon that Edwards ever

preached when he was 18 years old the

title of the sermon is Christian

happiness and his thesis in the sermon

is Christians should be happy okay why

is that well here's his outline three

parts number one our bad things will

turn out for good number two our good

things can never be taken away from us

and number three the best things are yet

to come

ah it's so good it's so good I love it

so Jonathan Edwards stood in the long

line of Puritan preachers he wasn't a

Puritan himself technically because of

when he lived but he was certainly in

their tradition and what he did was to

crack open the hearts of his people and

plant joy in them and they grew up into

it now another preacher who was

responsible for helping alight the Great

Awakening was an Englishman who was an

itinerant preacher which means he

traveled around and preached not like

Edwards who stayed in Northampton his

name was George Whitfield now in every

picture of what field that you see he's

got this one crazy eye that he got as a

result of a childhood illness measles

probably and you would think that

because of that crazy eye he wouldn't be

all that effective everybody'd be just

looking at the crazy eye and saying I

can't hear anything you're saying

because of that crazy eye

but when Whitfield opened his mouth the

crowds dropped to their knees one of

England's greatest actors even said that

George Whitfield could make an entire

crowd weep just by saying the word

Mesopotamia furthermore this actor said

that he would pay handsomely if owned

he could say the word Oh like George

Whitefield oh I love it

Oh Jonathan Edwards preached mainly

within the bounds of his own church

walls and the fire came down there but

Whitfield went around and preached

anywhere that he could in the fields and

the streets and the crowds were cut to

the heart by his preaching and they

exhibited this really crazy behavior

like barking and rolling around on the

ground and shrieking and crying

uncontrollably so up and down the

eastern coast of America the fire had

been lit and what's significant about

the Great Awakening for our purposes is

that it was the first mass movement of

the American people I mean it's hard to

get ourselves into the mindset of an

18th century American I mean they were

not a unified Bunch to say the least

each colony was like its own

nation-state and they all had their own

aims and they all have their own desires

they all had their own goals and mostly

they were pointing in different

directions but along come Edwards in

Whitfield and all the other preachers

should begin to imitate their emotive

style of preaching and you've got a

significant portion of the population

who are now caught up in a mass movement

which gives them the sense that the

American people are now one people

who've had a shared experience and a

common identity and now if you'll

indulge me as we end I'm going to leave

you with a passage from one of Georgia

Whitfield's very famous sermons called

the almost Christian and I want you to

hear the appeal to the heart and why it

must have awaken to so many people let

me therefore to conclude exhort you my

brethren to have always before you the

unspeakable happiness of enjoying God

and think with all that every degree of

holiness you neglect every act of piety

you omit is a jewel taken out of your

crown a degree of blessedness lost in

the vision of God Oh

but to the contrary be daily endeavoring

to give yourselves up more and more unto

Him you will always be watching always

praying always aspiring after farther

degrees of purity and love and

consequently always preparing yourselves

for a fuller sight and enjoyment of that

God in whose presence there is fullness

of joy and at whose right hand there are

pleasures forevermore

amen and I'll see you next time

Mesopotamia