U.S. History

Chapter 5: Life in the English ColoniesSection 4: The Great Awakening

Words of the Great Awakening

•Revival—public church gathering to hear a minister’s message

Words of the Great Awakening

•Colonists experienced a “Great Awakening” in their religious lives

•Message: salvation could only be achieved through the acceptance of God’s grace & confession of sins

Words of the Great Awakening

George Whitefield Jonathan Edwards

Old & New Lights

•Disagreement over new religious ideas:

–“Old Lights”

–“New Lights”

Old & New Lights

• Charles Chauncy—thought the Great Awakening was an inappropriate way to gain salvation

Charles Chauncy

Old & New Lights

•Gilbert Tennant—Presbyterian minister who published a pamphlet attacking traditionalists

Old & New Lights

•The Presbyterian Church split into two groups:

–“Old Side”

–“New Side”

Old & New Lights

•Increased church membership

•Traveling preachers took revivals to frontier

The Great Awakening & Society

•Attracted people of different classes, races, and sexes

•Communication & education

•Political issues

Religious leaders believe colonists are losing their

faith

Preachers speak about spiritual equality

Disagreement over teachings of Great

Awakening

Cause Effect