Final answer:
The Great Awakening was caused by a perception among Calvinists that colonists were becoming too materially focused, endangering their spiritual lives. It led to a religious revival emphasizing personal salvation, which caused societal changes including a distrust in institutional authority and an increase in educational pursuits. The consequential Second Great Awakening continued these themes of salvation through free will and inclusivity, further impacting American society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Awakening was a significant religious revival that swept through the American colonies, primarily caused by a sense of spiritual malaise among the colonists. Calvinists believed that the colonists' focus on material success and wealth was threatening their spiritual life.
Evangelical ministers, alarmed by this trend, began preaching a more emotional and personal form of Christianity which led to the Great Awakening. The ministers from both sides of the Atlantic inspired a movement that stressed personal salvation and experiential faith.
The consequences of the Great Awakening were profound. It caused a schism between the 'New Lights,' who embraced the evangelical message, and the 'Old Lights,' who resisted the change. This division extended beyond the church to affect colonial society at large.
The Great Awakening fostered a distrust in institutionalized authority and a favorable disposition toward education. It also translated into a push for social reforms as people began to believe they could perfect society through individual conversions.
The Second Great Awakening, which followed, continued this movement, emphasizing that salvation was available to all through free will. It widened the reach of the church and played a significant role in shaping American society, including the future push for abolition and women's rights.