THE GREAT AWAKENING

Mr. Sandford

AP American History

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Definition

“Series of religious revivals that swept over the American Colonies about the middle of the 18th century. It resulted in doctrinal changes and influenced social and political thought.

It was not one continuous revival, rather it was several revivals in a variety of locations. For the simple reality is that one cannot be awakened unless you have fallen asleep.

The Background

The small farms and plantations of the colonies were spread out making organized religion difficult. In addition, the concern for survival was more important. Authoritarian structures of any sort--be they governmental or ecclesiastical--met with great resistance. As a result, by the second and third generations, the vast majority of the population were not members of the church.

Up and down the coast, the landscape was littered with the “unchurched”. All that was required was a spark of revival to set the landscape afire with religious enthusiasm. When that spark ignited, those who led the revival were so surprised by what was taking place, that they "attributed it entirely to God's inscrutable grace.”

The revival was different in each area of the country.

Basic Principles In the 17th century, traditional religious

formulations had been under pressure. Human beings had the ability to discover the secrets of the universe and had some control over their own destiny - THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

If human beings could in fact think the thoughts of God he could “find” God. One's destiny was solely in God's hands.

New England

In New England it was started (1734) by the rousing preaching of Jonathan Edwards.

Main area: "You can't control salvation." But "if you try, God will aid your salvation." Jonathan Edwards talked about "Pressing into the Kingdom". "It was," he said, "not a thing impossible."

Middle Colonies

In 1730, a Scottish evangelist, Gilbert Tennant arrived and challenged the beliefs in Penn. As to concerned with church requirements and not finding god.

He established a school to train clergymen. Today it is known as Princeton University.

Southern Colonies

During trips after 1739, George Whitefield preached in the Southern colonies, in front of large audiences He preached about sinful men and women were totally dependent for salvation on the mercy of a pure, all-powerful God. He gestured and sometimes weeping. He turned the sermon into a theatrical performance.

The Great Awakening

Emotion and shrieking are signs of true faith, sincerity and conversion.

Emphasis on feeling

Salvation by faith alone. Not earned by good deeds.

Believed in predestination

Puritanism

Calm, serious and formal

Emphasis on reason

A virtuous life

Believed in predestination

Opposition? Conservative and moderate clergymen

questioned and charged that disorder and discord attended the revivals.

They questioned ministers, like Whitefield, who traveled, preaching and criticizing the local clergy.

They took greater exception when women and African Americans shed their subordinate social status long enough to exhort religious gatherings.

Split in “Awakening” Clergy

The movement split along the lines of OLD LIGHTS and NEW LIGHTS.

NEW LIGHTS - churches were still full of sinful and uncoverted members. They put down book learning to “find salvation”

Created Rutgers (1766), Princeton (1746) and Brown (1760’s).

Impact The movement brought independence

from the clergy. The movement pushed people to “shop”

around for preachers that suited them. Outburst of religious activity toward the

Native Americans Encouraged a democratic spirit in

Religion. As New Lights became more erratic,

people went back to traditional

Bibliography

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/G/GreatAwa.asp

http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/grawaken.htm

http://www.wfu.edu/~matthetl/perspectives/four.html