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American colonists changed their perspective on liberty, through the coming of the Great Awakening. American colonists endured several obstacles in this period. Some were banished from colonies, and others were even killed because of their beliefs. At the end of the Great Awakening, the American colonists prospered, and were awarded the freedom of religion and beliefs.
The Great Awakening was a Christian revitalization that swept Europe, and ultimately merged to the Americas. It played a huge role in the way religion was originally perceived. Once the Great Awaking was over, people were given the freedom to choose which religion they wanted to embrace. It began when a group of Puritans lead by John Winthrop came to the Americas in 1629. Their goal was to preach the …show more content…
traditional Christian way, which they have followed for over one thousand years. Once the puritans arrived, the Puritans immediately began to preach their beliefs upon the new colony. Pueblo’s embraced the puritans religion, and were willing to incorporate the puritan’s beliefs with their own.
Unfortunately, the puritans only believed in one God, and felt that anyone who thought otherwise would receive eternal damnation.
(God In America, A New Adam) In time, some pueblo’s embraced the religion fully, and those who did not, were tortured or killed by the priests.
John Winthrop believed that only priests could preach the word of God, and that all Christians embrace their beliefs. Moreover, his outlook on Christianity was that the only way to make it to heaven was to follow the Bible, and live a prosperous life. It was not long before his preaching beliefs were challenged.
In 1634, a woman named Ann Hutchinson arrived in the colony. She was an educated woman, and understood the bible as well as any minister. Hutchinson was immediately accepted by most of the colony, and became an asset in many ways. She began with becoming a mentor to all women bearing a child. Hutchinson would attend all of the child births throughout the colony to support the woman. Furthermore, she was known most for her preaching and beliefs. Hutchinson quickly began to gain several followers who believed in her message. In addition, people would gather in her home often to hear her
preach.
Ann Hutchinson’s message was far from what John Winthrop had been preaching. She believed God spoke to her directly, and that puritans could guarantee their salvation. Moreover, the puritans embraced her preaching because it gave them hope of salvation after sin. It was not long before Winthrop noticed her undermining the way the Bible was interpreted. In addition, he feared that her message would tarnish everything he has been trying to achieve.
Several ministers confronted Winthrop to declare that Hutchinson had many followers, and they embraced her word over their own. (God In America, A New Adam) As time went by, John Winthrop did not want to take any chances with Ann Hutchinson. In 1637 she was charged with sedition and later found guilty. In spring 1638, Hutchinson was forced to leave the colony forever. Unfortunately for Winthrop, she did not depart without leaving a major presence of her beliefs. Hutchinson’s influence would outlive her and Winthrop. Millions of people, from all types of religion came to recreate themselves. Furthermore, it would be more than one hundred years before Ann Hutchinson’s word would be fully embraced by the colony. (God In America, A New Adam)
Religion as we know it would change drastically with the arrival of George Whitefield in 1938. Whitefield was a reverend who had similar beliefs as Ann Hutchinson. Upon Whitefield’s arrival, puritans were much more acceptable to diverse religion and beliefs. George Whitfield felt that he had the answer. In addition, he believed that one could be born again in a spiritual rebirth. (God In America, A New Adam) Whitefield believed this, because he experienced it himself, through transformation of the soul. He traveled hundreds of miles to share his beliefs, and revelations with God. George Whitfield had several enemies, but had many more followers. After his death in 1770 he had completed all the tasks he had set out to do. Laws were passed on any mandate of religion. People were now given a choice to preach and worship anything they pleased. For the first time, colonists had an option to attend any church or gathering without repercussion. In the end it took hundreds of years suffering turmoil, and transformation for society to prevail. As a result of the of the Great Awakening, colonists were finally given a choice and going forward, set the standard of religious freedom. In conclusion, Ministers and preachers like Ann Hutchinson and George Whitfield gave the colonists new meaning to the idea of liberty.