GREAT AWAKENING:
a series of REVIVALS in the American colonies between 1725 and 1760.
They reached a peak in 1726 but fresh conversions and excitement occurred in New England
in 1734-1735 through the preaching of Jonathan EDWARDS. The English EVANGELIST George
WHITEFIELD linked these regional awakenings into a "Great Awakening" through his
itinerant preaching tours. The established Clergy soon criticized the revivalists'
preaching and practices and Edwards became their vigorous defender. In his book Some
Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival (1743), and later work A Treatise on
Religious Affections (1746), he distinguishes between the beneficial and
detrimental effects of revivals. New England defenders of the Great Awakening were known
as the "New Lights" while those who opposed it were known as "Old
Lights." The movement made a great contribution to education and led to the founding
of Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, Brown, and Dartmouth
Colleges. Equally important was the mood of tolerance that led to ECUMENICAL ventures
among Clergy supporting the movement.
