The Great Awakening: Is it the first unifying event in the colonies, or just a passing fad of religious fervor?
Task: You will walk through several websites and view primary sources to gauge the effects of the Great Awakening upon the colonies.
Today’s Goals:
- Identify when and where the First Great Awakening took place
- Explain the characteristics of religious belief associated with the First Great Awakening
- Identify and discuss the ideas of Jonathan Edwards, one of the leading preachers associated with the First Great Awakening
- Discuss how colonial Americans perceived the First Great Awakening and how it affected the lives of both colonial Americans and Native Americans.
We’ll do this by examining key leaders and average people who lived during this time. Gather information from the various web sites, and be prepared to discuss!
Jonathan Edwards
- Read background information on the Great Awakening and Jonathan Edwards at the American Memory Project site (scroll down a bit!):
- Read excerpt of Edwards’ most famous sermon, “Sinners In the Hands of An Angry God,” seen here:
- As you read, think about these things:
- In what context (at what time and in what place) did Edwards deliver this sermon?
- Who would have represented Edwards' "ideal" audience?
- What message does Edwards convey in this passage?
- What reactions do Edwards' carefully crafted images attempt to evoke?
George Whitfield
- Read “The Great Awakening Comes to Weathersfield, Connecticut: Nathan Cole’s Spiritual Travels” located here:
- Read background information on George Whitfield located on this site (scroll down a bit!):
- Be ready to discuss the following questions:
- Why do you think average farmers such as Nathaniel Cole stopped what they were doing and traveled great distances to witness George Whitefield speak?
- What message does Cole's statement, "I saw that my righteousness would not save me; then I was convinced of the doctrine of Election and went right to quarrelling with God about it, because all that I could do would not save me" reveal about Whitefield's teachings?
- After reading this passage, what conclusion can you draw about the religious practices and beliefs of the Great Awakening?
Samsom Occum, Indian Minister
Read the preface for background information on Samsom Occum here: Then, be ready to discuss the following questions:
- What information would enhance your understanding of Occom's religious practices compared to those of other ministers during the Great Awakening?
- Do you agree with Occom's conclusion that his status as a "poor Indian" detracted from his ability to influence the Indian population as well as his religious superiors? Use evidence from the text to support your argument.
- In many ways Occom is an extraordinary figure, since no more than a small fraction of Native Americans converted to Christianity. Why do you think this was the case?
Finally, gather information on how the Great Awakening unified the colonies. Can we call this a political event, or merely a religious one? Explain!