The Great Awakening:
18th Century America
“From the Reformation to the Constitution”
Bill Petro
your friendly neighborhood historian
05/09/2010
www.billpetro.com/v7pc
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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
1787
Calvinism
Theocentrism
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Modern
1865
Arminianism
Liberalism
Biblistic Rationalism Subjectivism
Existentialism
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
17th century
•  Galvanized by
Great Awakening
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The 3 W’s
Whitefield
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EdWards
Wesley
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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
Worldly influences
Conversion: Aldersgate, 35
Oxford, 21
Preaching: Intellectual, doctrinal
Dramatic, emotional
Arminian (semi-Augustinian)
Calvinistic
Exceptional organizer
Exceptional preacher
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Methodism
•  Hierarchical
•  Episcopal
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Methodists: Francis Asbury
•  1745-1816
•  Leader in
2nd 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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Jonathan Edwards, A Life
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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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“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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1-Word Summary
•  Pilgrims
Separatists
•  Puritans
Saints
•  Denominations
Inclusive
•  Whitefield
Dramatic
•  Wesley
Methodism
•  Edwards
Glory
•  Great Awakening
Fire
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