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Similarities Between First And Second Great Awakenings

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The Awakenings happened during the seventeenth and eighteenth century when American were trying to find their national identity while under British rule and. They both focused on God and eternal damnation but for different reasons. The First Great Awakening focused on Calvinist ideals such the inheritance of sinfulness. According to the preachers, a person is eternally damned and there is nothing that can be done about it except to fear God. The Second Great Awakening focused on Arminian ideals. This meant that you have a choice between salvation and damnation. You still had to fear God, but now you have a choice in your destiny. Several other differences and similarities between the two Great Awakenings helped shape the future of the colonists and America.
The First Awakening began in New England where John Edwards was a new light minister known for Sinners in the “Hand of an Angry God.” Many new light ministers saw state supported churches as obstacles to expressing faith. It is said that the First Awakening spurred the American Revolution. Edward’s emotional sermon caused people to leave state churches in large quantities. As the number of church memberships dwindled, people began to question aspects of their daily lives such as religion and the government. …show more content…

Nonetheless, many new sectors developed such as Methodists and Baptists, and religious diversity increased dramatically. Many of the colonists disagreed with the ideals of Roman Catholism and began to see the antichrist in George III (after they saw it in the pope). The colonists believed that Britain’s presence in American affairs needed to be eradicated in order to achieve righteousness. This new fervor caused by the First Great Awakening spurred people to take action militarily and politically in order to meet the religious goals at the

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