The Great Awakening: How Religious Revivals Reshaped 18th-Century America

A series of intense religious revivals that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century, profoundly reshaping their spiritual, social, and political landscape.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jul 26, 2026

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Quick take

The Great Awakening was a series of Protestant religious revivals in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s.
It emphasized emotional, personal conversion over traditional doctrine and challenged established church authority.
Key figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield attracted vast crowds with fervent, open-air sermons.
It fostered new denominations, challenged social hierarchies, and contributed to a growing sense of intercolonial identity.

The Great Awakening was not a single event, but a series of Protestant religious revivals that swept through the American colonies primarily during the 1730s and 1740s. It was characterized by widespread, fervent preaching that emphasized a deeply personal and emotional experience of faith, often leading to public conversions, rather than relying solely on inherited church membership or formal doctrine.

How the Revivals Spread and Took Hold

The Great Awakening was propelled by charismatic itinerant preachers who traveled across colonial borders, holding large, open-air meetings that drew thousands. These preachers, often called "New Lights," delivered emotionally charged sermons that stressed individual sinfulness, the need for repentance, and the transformative power of God's grace. This direct appeal to personal spiritual experience contrasted sharply with the more formal, intellectual, and often staid sermons of established colonial churches.

Prominent figures like Jonathan Edwards, a theologian from Massachusetts, delivered powerful sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which vividly depicted the precariousness of the unredeemed soul. George Whitefield, an Anglican minister from England, was perhaps the most influential, known for his dramatic oratorical style and ability to captivate audiences across denominations and social classes throughout the colonies. His tours created a shared, intercolonial experience that transcended local boundaries.

Key Figures of the Great Awakening

**Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758):** A Congregationalist minister and theologian, known for his intellectual defense of the revivals and his vivid sermons.
**George Whitefield (1714-1770):** An Anglican evangelist from England, whose powerful oratory and extensive tours made him the most famous preacher of the era.
**Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764):** A Presbyterian minister who preached the necessity of a converted ministry and fervent piety, often criticizing the "unconverted" clergy.

Impact on Colonial Society and Religion

The Great Awakening profoundly reshaped the religious landscape of colonial America. It led to the founding of new denominations, particularly Methodists and Baptists, and strengthened others, while causing divisions within existing churches between "Old Lights" (who resisted the revivals) and "New Lights" (who embraced them). This era fostered a greater sense of religious pluralism and competition among faiths.

Beyond religion, the Awakening had significant social and cultural effects. By emphasizing individual spiritual autonomy, it implicitly challenged traditional hierarchies, empowering ordinary people and encouraging literacy as individuals sought to read the Bible for themselves. It also spurred the founding of new colleges, such as Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth, to train "New Light" ministers. This shared, intercolonial experience of revival created a nascent sense of collective identity among colonists, laying some groundwork for future political movements.

Was the Great Awakening a single, unified movement?

No, it was a series of distinct, though interconnected, revivals that occurred at different times and places throughout the American colonies, often influenced by different preachers and local conditions.

What was the difference between "Old Lights" and "New Lights"?

"Old Lights" were traditional, established clergy and their followers who opposed the emotionalism and itinerant preaching of the revivals, fearing they undermined order and doctrine. "New Lights" embraced the revivals, emphasizing personal conversion and a more passionate, experiential faith.

How did the Great Awakening influence education?

The Awakening led to the establishment of several new colleges, including Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth. These institutions were founded primarily to train a new generation of "New Light" ministers who supported the revivalist movement.

Did the Great Awakening contribute to the American Revolution?

While not a direct cause, the Awakening fostered ideas that resonated with later revolutionary sentiments. Its emphasis on individual liberty, questioning of authority, and creation of a shared intercolonial identity among diverse populations contributed to a climate receptive to calls for independence and self-governance.

What were the long-term religious effects of the Great Awakening?

It led to greater religious diversity and competition, the growth of new denominations (especially Baptists and Methodists), a more active and lay-driven religious culture, and a lasting emphasis on personal conversion and evangelism in American Protestantism.