The Great Awakening U.S. History

Intro Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vKGU3aEGss [8:40-end]

New England’s Religious Background Time Period of the 1st Great Awakening: The 1730s-1740s Halfway Covenant—New England was in a bit of a conundrum. It was illegal to skip church services, but churches required all members to be genuine Christians—and many were not. To “solve” this problem, New England legalized the “Halfway Covenant,” which gave citizens partial membership, even if they were not genuine Christians.

Revivals in England [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap7KE0MRi4M The Methodists—When John Wesley was at Oxford University, he helped lead a small group of students in a Bible study. They were picked on for their “methodical” lifestyles (called the Holy Club), and thus, the name “Methodists” stuck. Wesley’s Early Ministry—After a failed ministry in the colony of Georgia, Wesley himself experienced a spiritual revival on the boat ride back to England when he encountered Moravians. Wesley’s Fruitful Ministry—Wesley’s vibrant preaching got him in trouble back in England, so he started preaching outdoors—which also got him in trouble. However, his ministry was incredibly successful, both in England and in America (under Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke).

Jonathan Edwards [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-dk4-HBNWQ A Brilliant Mind—Edwards learned Latin by age 6, as well as mastering Greek and Hebrew by age 12. He completed both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree by age 19. A Challenging Church—Edwards served as a pastoral assistant to his grandfather’s congregation. His grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, was especially influential in legalizing the Halfway Covenant, a practice that Jonathan Edwards detested. Edwards became pastor in 1729, and served this troubled church for over 20 years. His congregation had moments of revival, but the people were often unmoved. A Humble Hero—After a series of controversies, his church voted him out as pastor. Remarkably, Edwards volunteered to serve as “interim” pastor. He later served as a missionary to Native Americans, and briefly as Princeton University’s president before his death in 1758.

Edwards, the Eyewitness of Revival “This work of God, as...the Number of true Saints multiplied, soon made a glorious Alteration in the Town; so that in the spring and summer following, Anno 1735, the Town seemed to be full of the Presence of God; it was never so full of Love, nor of Joy, and yet so full of distress, as it was then. There were remarkable Tokens of God's Presence in almost every House. It was a time of Joy in families on account of Salvation being brought unto them... More than 300 Souls were savingly brought home to Christ, in this Town, in the Space of half a year.”

George Whitefield [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is9ztOI-h7c Connection to Wesley—He was an original member of John Wesley’s “Holy Club” (Methodists) at Oxford University. Banned—Whitefield started preaching by age 23, and quickly became a well-acclaimed preacher. However, the Church of England banned him from their pulpits. That was no problem for Whitefield, as his booming voice projected in outdoor settings where people gathered, both in England and then in America (7 trips total). Impact—Crowds were estimated to amount to 20,000 people (perhaps even 30,000, according to Ben Franklin). He preached an estimated 18,000 times in 34 years of ministry. Whitefield preached to the rich and poor, black and white, European and Native American. [v2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z_aFD-EgbU

Spiritual Effects of the Great Awakening Thousands of people were either truly converted to Christianity or revived in their spiritual lives A new missionary spirit was kindled Religious colleges/universities were founded (examples: Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth) [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0vqUDj4ptw Many Christians began to look at traditional religious establishments in a new (and critical) way Marginalized denominations grew rapidly (Baptists & Methodists) Traditional denominations were divided (Old and New Lights, for example)

Literary Effects of the Great Awakening “On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley, the first black female writer in America: 'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their colour is a diabolic die." Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Political Effects of the Great Awakening The electrifying idea—The Great Awakening was, in a sense, an American Revolution in the religious sphere. Established churches could not suppress “the people.” Within a couple of decades an American Revolution would take place in the political sphere. Established government could not suppress “the people.”