A First Great Awakening (1700s) + Major Figures

Vocabulary flashcards covering the First Great Awakening, its major figures, and its impact on colonial religion and the pre-Revolutionary era.

First Great Awakening

Religious revival in the American colonies (c. 1730s–1740s) that rekindled passion for Christianity, encouraged personal faith, led to new denominations (sects), and helped set the stage for ideas contributing to the American Revolution.

George Whitefield

Prominent itinerant preacher and public figure who toured the colonies, spreading the revival and uniting/diversifying Christian sects.

Jonathan Edwards

Preacher who used fear-based rhetoric to urge people to return to church; famous for 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'.

Sects

Distinct branches or denominations that emerged as revivalists sparked new expressions of Christianity.

Individualism

Emphasis on personal religious experience and conscience, contributing to rebellious attitudes and the formation of independent congregations.

Lead up to the American Revolution

The Great Awakening helped shape religious and political ideas that contributed to revolutionary thinking.

Reunited passion for Christianity

Revival renewed enthusiasm for Christian faith across the colonies, bringing believers together under a revived movement.