The Great Awakening:
18 th Century America
“From the Reformation to the Constitution”
Bill Petro your friendly neighborhood historian www.billpetro.com/v7pc
05/09/2010 1

Objectives
By the end of this session you should be able to
• Trace development of the
Great Awakening
• Identify the key players: 3 W’s
• Outline the life of
Jonathan Edwards
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American Church History
Colonial National Modern
1787 1865
Calvinism Arminianism
Biblistic Rationalism
Liberalism
Subjectivism
Existentialism
Theocentrism
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Anthropocentrism Liberalism
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Revivalism
1. God’s saints are revived
2. They share their faith locally
3. Missionary enterprise beyond the locale
4. Social outreach
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Colonies: 1750
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Middle Colonies Course of Awakening
• 1720’s: Theodore Fruelinghausen
N. New Jersey Dutch pastor – Rariton River Valley
• He noticed some of his Deacons were becoming converted
• New Brunswick, NJ – Presbyterians
William Tennent and his Irish sons
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William Tennent
• 1673-1745
• Presbyterian evangelist
• Log College
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Northern Course of Awakening
• 1734-37: Connecticut River Valley -
Congregationalists : Northampton to the Atlantic
• Died down for 3 years
• Enflamed under
Whitefield :
Boston, Salem, Portsmouth, all of New England
• Leadership and writings of
Jonathan Edwards
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“Evangelicalism”
• Premise: conversion, “new birth”
• Puritans: public profession
• 1730s, 40s: “Awakenings”
Colonies, England, Wales, Scotland
• Mass conversions, open air preaching of the
Word
• Split churches: “New Lights/New Side” vs.
“Old Lights/Old Side”
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Southern Course of Awakening
•
Presbyterians in N. Virginia
•
Baptists (Separate Congregationalists) in
New England (Connecticut) expands to
Separate Baptists in N. Carolina
• From 6,000 – 20,000 in 3 years, foundation of
Southern Baptists
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Baptists
• In America since
17 th century
• Galvanized by
Great Awakening
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The 3 W’s
05/09/2010
Ed W ards
W hitefield
W esley
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George Whitefield
• 1714 - 1770
• In 1738 made 1st of
7 visits to the America
• Ordained Anglican
• “Great Itinerant”
• Member of Wesley’s Oxford
“Holy Club”
• Popular as G. Washington
• Huge crowds: 30,000
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Preaching in the Field
• Collapsible Field pulpit
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The New Birth
• John 3:1-8
• Whitefield: “How this glorious Change is wrought in the Soul cannot easily be explained."
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Ben Franklin on Whitefield
• Heard Whitefield preach in Colonies &
England:
• Philadelphia Hall
• Georgia orphanage
• Size of crowds
• Pleased with discourse
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John Wesley
• 1703 - 1791
• “a brand plucked from the burning”
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Wesley vs. Whitefield
Son of Anglican rector Son of tavern keeper
Strict religious upbringing
Conversion: Aldersgate, 35
Worldly influences
Oxford, 21
Preaching: Intellectual, doctrinal Dramatic, emotional
Arminian (semi-Augustinian) Calvinistic
Exceptional organizer
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Exceptional preacher
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Methodism
• Hierarchical
• Episcopal
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Methodists: Francis Asbury
• 1745-1816
• Leader in
2 nd Great Awakening
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Jonathan Edwards
• 1703-1758
• Interpreter of and apologist for the
Great Awakening
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First Churches, Northampton
• Fifth Meeting House
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Jonathan Edwards
In memory of Jonathan Edwards
Minister of Northampton
From Feb 15, 1727 to June 22, 1750
“
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity ”
Malachi 2:6
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Sinners in the
Hands of an
Angry God.
Enfield, July 8,
1741
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Revival of
Northampton
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05/09/2010
Jonathan Edwards, A Life
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02/14/2010 28

“Denominationalism”
• Primary expression of American Christianity, post 1740’s
• Based, in part, on freedom to differ
• Denomination vs.
Sect
• Inclusive vs.
Exclusive
• The true church cannot be identified with any single ecclesiastical structure
• Seed planted by Reformers: not of bishops but of believers
• Architected by Congregationalists at
Westminster Assembly
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Effects of the Great Awakening
• 80% of Americans unified in common understanding of Christian life and faith
• Dissent/dissenters enjoyed greater respect: Baptists,
Methodists, Presbyterians
• Emphasis on education: Univ. of Penn, UNC
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Effects of the Great Awakening, cont
• Preaching to Indians and Slaves
• Reinterpreted Covenant: man’s response
• Dissolution of Theocracy: disestablishment in VA &
NC, democratization
• Breakdown in theological consensus:
New/Old Lights
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1-Word Summary
• Pilgrims
• Puritans
• Denominations
• Whitefield
• Wesley
• Edwards
• Great Awakening
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Separatists
Saints
Inclusive
Dramatic
Methodism
Glory
Fire
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