The Great Awakening, Enlightenment, & Phillis Wheatley Religious and Intellectual Movements of the 18th Century Influence Generations

Great Awakening Religious revival in America 1740s: American Congregationalist Minister Jonathan Edwards emphasizes personal religious experiences 1740s:George Whitefield brings Methodism from Britain-huge crowds flock to hear the open-air sermons Whitefield urges people to worship God through their good works Evangelical Protestant ministers cater to a people interested in religion

George Whitefield, itinerant preacher addresses a revival gathering

Great Awakening & Africans in America Evangelical preachers challenge the hierarchical order of the established church The message of spiritual equality before God appealed to Africans African American preachers emerged from the revival movement George Liele and his students Andrew Bryan & David George led services in the south Lemuel Haynes preached in New England Lemuel Haynes, African American Congregational Minister

Conversion of Many African Americans Themes of liberation, equality, and salvation for the oppressed appealed to many enslaved and free Africans in America Whitefield and others actively seek to convert enslaved and free Africans Thousands of Africans converted to this evangelical Christianity

Maryland slave John Thompson describes the Great Awakening’s impact “ This new doctrine. . . brought glad tidings to the poor bondman; it bound up the broken hearted; it opened the prison doors to them that were slaves, it spread from plantation to plantation, where there were but few who did not experience religion” What impact did this religious revival have on enslaved Africans?

The Enlightenment Intellectual movement challenges social and political hierarchy Emphasized ‘reason’ over blind faith-rationality & science Challenged established institutions: political, social, & religious John Locke: personal liberties, personal rights of property “Natural Rights of Man”: life, liberty, pursuit of property P.116

On Being Brought from Africa to America by Phillis Wheatley '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.