AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: The Great Awakening (Day 35/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of the Great Awakening in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

George Whitefield Preaching, Britannica

Around the same time as the spread of Enlightenment ideas in the colonies, there was a reinvigoration of religious commitments. The Great Awakening was an 18th century religious movement characterized by fervent expression of religious feeling.

First Postal Map of New England, 1729 Wikimedia Commons

The Great Awakening emerged due to a decline of religious commitments, the shift away from the Church caused by the Enlightenment, and the ability to spread ideas through growing communication networks. 

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Sermon, Wikimedia Commons

Notable ministers, including Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, delivered passionate and powerful sermons that often focused on sinfulness and damnation. These yielded an emotional response from the audience that led to an immense increase in religious commitments. 

Predominant Religions in the 13 American Colonies, 1750, Reddit

It also led to the development of new Christian groups and denominations, called “New Lights.” Baptists and Methodists experienced rapid growth and in some areas the messages led to the suspension of some segregating rules. 

As a backlash to the Enlightenment, the Great Awakening was a religious movement that fueled religious fervor, inspired social reforms, and promoted ideas of equality.

Join me tomorrow as we head to APUSH Period 3 with the Seven Years’ War in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!