Great Awakening = Great Awakening = Religious RevivalReligious Revival

“one cannot be awakened “one cannot be awakened unless you have fallen asleep”unless you have fallen asleep”

Why do the colonies need a Why do the colonies need a religious revival?religious revival?

In Response toIn Response to• Puritan belief in predestinationPuritan belief in predestination• StrictnessStrictness• New world individualism, optimism, and New world individualism, optimism, and

enterprise ($$$)enterprise ($$$)• Liberal ideas of Enlightment – appeal to Liberal ideas of Enlightment – appeal to

those experiencing economic and social those experiencing economic and social improvement – commercial farmers, improvement – commercial farmers, merchants, growing middle classmerchants, growing middle class

Revival PreachersRevival Preachers

• Conservative clergymen were spiritually coldConservative clergymen were spiritually cold• Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of an Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of an

Angry God”Angry God”– Congregational Church – MassCongregational Church – Mass– People are helpless in hands of God – recognize and feel People are helpless in hands of God – recognize and feel

sinssins– Conversion is emotional experience of the heart – not the Conversion is emotional experience of the heart – not the

mind. Then one is open to Divine Spiritmind. Then one is open to Divine Spirit• George Whitefield – PopularGeorge Whitefield – Popular

– Preached outdoors – charismaticPreached outdoors – charismatic– Emotional experienceEmotional experience– Sinners who love Jesus will go to HeavenSinners who love Jesus will go to Heaven

MessageMessage• Puritan piety of 1600’s had erodedPuritan piety of 1600’s had eroded• Colonist prefer counting house to meeting houseColonist prefer counting house to meeting house• Salvation open to all who appealed to GodSalvation open to all who appealed to God• Equal opportunity – all can share in God’s grace – Equal opportunity – all can share in God’s grace –

equivalent to equal rights to share in the good life…equivalent to equal rights to share in the good life…• Personal relationship with GodPersonal relationship with God• Revival MeetingsRevival Meetings• No clergy to channel prayersNo clergy to channel prayers• Emotional Emotional • Mission to IndiansMission to Indians

Second Great Awakening Second Great Awakening (1830s)(1830s)• Personal and emotionalPersonal and emotional• Abolitionism (no slavery)Abolitionism (no slavery)• Prison reformPrison reform• TemperanceTemperance• Women’s suffrage (Voting)Women’s suffrage (Voting)

ImpactImpact• Presbyterian, Baptists and Methodists grew Presbyterian, Baptists and Methodists grew

especially in the Southespecially in the South• Church of England and Puritan churches Church of England and Puritan churches

declinesdeclines• Conservative ministers concerned – Conservative ministers concerned –

uneducated, unqualified men were preachinguneducated, unqualified men were preaching• New lights and Old lightsNew lights and Old lights• Church attendance increased = Spiritual Church attendance increased = Spiritual

democracydemocracy• Higher Education – Rutgers and DartmouthHigher Education – Rutgers and Dartmouth

Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials• Economic pressures between old and Economic pressures between old and

new Salemnew Salem• Less to do with religion - more to do Less to do with religion - more to do

with social stratificationwith social stratification• Ludicrous accusations Ludicrous accusations

Impact on Humanitarian Impact on Humanitarian SpiritSpirit• Slaves, Indians, poor – all a Christian Slaves, Indians, poor – all a Christian

concernconcern• Blacks attending revivals and Blacks attending revivals and

churches (Baptist)churches (Baptist)• Growth of Black leadershipGrowth of Black leadership

AMERICAN RELIGION AMERICAN RELIGION BECOMES MORE BECOMES MORE

DEMOCRATICDEMOCRATIC

How did the GA contribute How did the GA contribute to the development of to the development of

separation of church and separation of church and state in America?state in America?