Abstract
The First Great Awakening left an indelible mark on the development of America. With roots stretching back to the Christian Reformation of the 1500’s, the Great Awakening swept the young colonies with the fires of evangelical fervor. The revival shook the very foundations of colonial society. Following in its wake was a rebirth of reformed philosophy and theology that planted the seeds of self-government and political autonomy in the fertile soil of the Americas. By 1776, that seed had blossomed into a vibrant revolutionary movement that questioned the very fabric of Old World society. This article explores the rich Christian heritage of our nation by looking at the movement the inspired the American Revolution; the First Great Awakening. It explores at its theological foundations and its philosophical and social repercussions on the birth of the nation. Furthermore, this article examines the distinctly reformed character of the Awakening and the influence this had on the Founding generation.
Recommended Citation
Quirion, Kory Ray Thomas
(2016)
"The First Great Awakening: Revival and the Birth of a Nation,"
Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ljh/vol1/iss2/3
Included in
Cultural History Commons, History of Christianity Commons, History of Religion Commons, Other American Studies Commons, Political History Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, United States History Commons