The Great Awakening was a liberal movement that spread through Britain’s thirteen colonies. The Great Awakening altered the idea and framework of religion in colonies. It was a religious awakening at a time when secular rationalism was emphasized. Instead of a commercial society, there was an emphasis on salvation and spiritual revival. Church leaders were concerned because individuals were becoming so preoccupied with making money and becoming wealthy that they had forgotten about their faith. Christian leaders frequently traveled from town to town, preaching the gospel and highlighting the significance of redemption from sin. Even the most pessimistic audience member could be caught up in the infectious emotion of preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield’s sermons and testimonies.
The central theme of Edwards’ message was that humans were sinners who needed to seek forgiveness because God was an agitated judge. Whitefield’s preaching style was likable, conceptual, and imaginative (“Great Awakening [ushistory.org],” n.d.). As a result, there was some level of success because many people responded to the salvation invitation. Other consequences of the Great Awakening include a shift in social, religious, and political attitudes. For example, it fueled northern anti-slavery sentiment and led to the founding of a number of America’s most prestigious universities and colleges. Furthermore, it promoted equality by allowing anyone to be saved, whether black or female. The concept of equality, rights, and freedom spread, laying the groundwork for the American Revolution.
Even so, the religious dispute started, resulting in the formation of two groups: New Light Churches and Old Light Churches. Preachers of the New Light, also known as the Awakening, established their schools and churches throughout the colonies. The ministers of the Old Light did not accept this different style of devotion (“Great Awakening [ushistory.org],” n.d.). Due to the long-term challenges between economic matters and Indian policy, the religious conflict made things difficult for the colonies. Unfortunately, this did not sit well with some economists because religion widely criticized global economic growth efforts. In general, the ministries caused slow economic growth. The Great Awakening paved the way for protests and opposition to unpopular political policies. Furthermore, Christians became vocal and openly opposed certain religious practices. Historians believe the Great Awakening influenced the Revolutionary War by instilling ideas of national identity and personal freedoms.
The British considered the colonies insubordinate because they had groups that enforced policies and governments that ran other stuff. For example, the British government opposed the Navigation Act, which was one of the critical policies used to regulate procedures. The British eventually defeated the French, but it came at a cost. The British military was said to be arrogant, undermining the British Empire’s sovereign power. Furthermore, the Reformation aided in the early settlement of Colonial America and created geopolitical and social forces that drove migrants to North America. Many protesters who helped lead counter-reformation acts were exposed and brought to trial by the Queen.
The Great Awakening had an undeniable impact on the Christian faith. It resurrected religion in America when it was on the decline and introduced ideas that would permeate American culture for many decades. The approach of the new faiths that took shape was significantly more representative of the people. The Great Awakening changed the spiritual fabric of the colonies and sparked social and economic changes as a result of spiritual growth.
References
The Great Awakening [ushistory.org]. (n.d.). US History. Web.