Question

In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, who had made himself remarkable there as (a travelingl preacher. He was at first permitted to preach in some of our churches,

but the clergy, taking a dislike to him, soon refused him their pulpits, and he was obliged to preach in the fields. The multitudes of all members of different religious groups) that attended his
sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers, and how much they admired and respected him. It was
wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could
not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.
"And it being found inconvenient to assemble in the open air, subject to its ſharsh conditions), the building of a house to meet in was no sooner proposed and the work (of erecting the building
was carried on with such spirit as to be finished in a much shorter time than could have been expected. Both house and ground were vested in trustees, expressly for the use of any preacher of any
religious persuasion who might desire to say something to the people at Philadelphia."
Benjamin Franklin, from his autobiography, describing events in 1739

Which of the following developments most directly contributed to the events described in the excerpt?
A Protestant evangelism came to the colonies from Great Britain and Europe,
B The beliefs of Puritan leaders had an increased impact on colonial religious practices
С Colonists became less interested in religion as they became more involved with trans-Atlantic trade.
D Local clergy members in the colonies routinely welcomed the preaching of diverse religious doctrines.

Answer 1

Protestant evangelism from Great Britain and Europe, part of the First Great Awakening, was the development most directly contributing to the events described by Benjamin Franklin, as it ushered in an era of emotional religious revival and widespread conversions across the colonies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The development that most directly contributed to the events described in the excerpt about the reception of the Reverend Mr. Whitefield in 1739 is Protestant evangelism coming to the colonies from Great Britain and Europe. This period, known as the First Great Awakening, was characterized by a surge of religious fervor and evangelical Protestant revivals. These revivals rejected the formal modes of worship and instead emphasized a personal and experiential faith. Figures like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were central to this movement, fostering a spirit that led to the construction of new meeting houses to accommodate the large crowds that their preaching drew.

The Great Awakening promoted a fervent, emotional religiosity that was welcomed by many, including those who had felt excluded by traditional Protestantism. This led to increased church attendance, numerous conversions, and the spread of new evangelical Protestant denominations.