How did the Great Awakening contribute to the spirit of independence among American colonists?

The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals that swept through the American colonies from the 1730s to the 1740s (with echoes into the 1760s). It significantly contributed to the spirit of independence among American colonists through several, interrelated means:

1. Encouraging Personal Belief: The Great Awakening emphasized personal belief and the experience of being "born again" over formal church doctrine and the authority of clergy. This encouraged individuals to question traditional authority and make personal decisions about their faith, fostering a spirit of independence and individualism.

2. Challenging Authority: The revival put a lot of focus on the idea that religious authority resided not in human institutions, such as the established churches or the clergy, but in one's personal relationship with God. This led to a questioning of not just religious, but also secular authority, fueling the growing American sentiment against British political authority.

3. Unifying the Colonies: While the colonies had diverse religious practices, the Great Awakening promoted a sense of unity among colonists as Americans. This helped bridge the gaps between different regions, classes, and denominations, bringing people together with a new-found sense of a shared identity.

4. Democratic Impulses: The movement was marked by spirited and open debates about religious principles. Ministers who led the revival, such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, practiced a form of worship that involved the community and downplayed the traditional hierarchical church structure. This democratic process in the churches paralleled the growing desire for political democracy in colonial governance.

5. Creation of New Schools and Colleges: The movement led to an increase in the establishment of new schools and colleges, which were often more open to Enlightenment ideas that emphasized reason, scientific inquiry, and a questioning of tradition. These institutions became hotbeds for revolutionary thought just before and during the American Revolution.

In essence, the Great Awakening contributed to the spirit of independence by promoting principles such as individualism, egalitarianism, and a questioning of traditional authorities, all of which played key roles in shaping the ideological groundwork for the American Revolution.