Abstract
The religious phenomenon known as “revivalism” has been a “way of life” in America from its earliest beginnings. It is a phenomenon rooted in the European awakenings which led to religious and political upheavals, and resulted in the flight or forced emigration of many who observed the “wrong” religious practices. Those who fled eventually to the New World brought with them a religion rigidly strict in its beliefs and observances. The Puritans prayed to an omnipotent God who predestined those elected to be saved and damned all others, regardless of the quality of their lives. In the untamed regions of America, however, this sovereign, austere form of worship soon led to problems. The vastness of this country, with its wealth of land and other resources, invited anyone to become independent and wealthy if he or she had a strong back and was hardworking. The novelty of working and thinking for oneself in secular affairs inevitably led to thinking for oneself on religious matters. The new struggling
middle-class soon saw the irrelevance of a religion that shut them out and placed all privileges in the hands of a few. The seeds for the First Great Awakening were planted.