Question

How did the Great Awakening challenge the authority of the established churches? What role did this play in planting the seeds for the Revolution? How did the challenging of religious authority lead to the challenging of political authority?

Answer 1

During the Great Awakening, many individuals began to question the authority of the established churches. The movement emphasized individualism and personal experience, urging people to seek their own spiritual truth rather than blindly following the teachings of church leaders. This challenge to religious authority planted the seeds for the Revolution by encouraging people to question other forms of authority, including political authority. As people began to assert their own beliefs and reject the authority of traditional institutions, they became more willing to challenge political leaders and demand greater freedoms and rights. Ultimately, the challenging of religious authority played a significant role in the challenging of political authority, paving the way for the American Revolution and the birth of a new nation.

Answer 2

The Great Awakening was aimed against the idea of "the divine right of kings" and favored a separation of Church and State. This stressed the idea of everyone's equality in the eyes of God and it soon became a real concept. This inspired the Revolution because it showed the public that the there should be no religious affiliation in the government.