Curated OER
Colonial North America
Showcase the religion, conflicts, daily life, and politics of Colonial North America. A very well-done presentation highlights all the major colonial groups, social norms, demographics, and political struggles of the time. Perfect for an...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 1: The First Great Awakening
High schoolers examine the First Great Awakening and how it affected religious belief in colonial America. They read and analyze primary source documents, explore various websites, and write a five-paragraph essay examining the beliefs...
National First Ladies' Library
The First Great Awakening
Connecting social studies and American literature, students study the Great Awakening and draw comparisons between its impact on England and on parts of Colonial America. They research the lives and experiences of people who lived during...
Curated OER
Differing Views of the Great Awakening
Students explore the Great Awakening by reading articles and write summaries of them, and then evaluating the perspectives.
Curated OER
Joseph Bellamy House
Pupils use maps, readings, drawings and photos to research the career and importance of Reverend Joseph Bellamy as a religious leader in New England during the Great Awakening. They also identify the basic principles of Puritanism.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The First Great Awakening
In the middle of the 18th century, a series of evangelical religious revival movements swept across colonial America. Known as the First Great Awakening, the movements were characterized by emotional religious conversions from a state of...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Second Generation of British Colonies
The religious and civil conflict in England in the mid-17th century limited immigration, as well as the attention the mother country paid the fledgling American colonies.
Digital History
Digital History: Explorations: The Puritans
No group has played a more pivotal role in shaping American values than the New England Puritans. The seventeenth-century Puritans contributed to our country's sense of mission, its work ethic, and its moral sensibility. Today, eight...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening in Colonial America
Learning activity on religion and society in which students explore the ideas and events of the Great Awakening and determine the impact they may have had on the American Revolution. Site provides links to wide variety of resources for...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Colonial Literature: The Great Awakening
This lesson focuses on Johnathan Edwards and The Great Awakening, a movement to revival the Puritan religion. It features information about the Great Awakening and why in wasn't successful and a link to the sermon "Sinners in the Hands...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Great Awakening and Enlightenment
This section of a chapter on "The English Empire" explains the significance of the Great Awakening and describes the genesis, central ideas, and effects of the Enlightenment in British North America.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Great Awakening
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students solve a problem surrounding a historical question by reading primary source documents. This historical inquiry lesson plan about the Great Awakening allows students to critically examine three...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Joseph Bellamy House: The Great Awakening in New England
This site describes the influence of the Reverend Joseph Bellamy and religion in 18th century colonial life. This lesson plan has excellent information, an inquiry question, historical context, maps, readings, images, and activities.
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion in 18th Century America
The Library of Congress offers this detailed essay on the renewal of religious beliefs in 18th century America. It discusses deism, a tenet of Enlightenment, and the Great Awakening.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Divining America: The First Great Awakening
This National Humanities Center essay describes an overview of the first Great Awakening. Discussion tips for teachers are included.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Religion in 18th Century America
In this Curriculum Unit, students will consider "Religion in 18th Century America" in 3 Lessons. The unit also includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Princeton University
Princeton Companion: The Founding of Princeton
This page from the Princeton University Press discusses how the founding of Princeton and other colleges of its time was a direct result of the Great Awakening.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: The Great Awakening: Religious Revival in Colonial America
Presents key ideas for a discussion of what led to the Great Awakening religious movement.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: Cambridge History of Eng and Am Lit: Chauncy and Wigglesworth
This is a detailed essay discussing Charles Chauncy and Edward Wigglesworth, two men who were religious leaders in early 18th century colonial America.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: History of American Literature
This article features a brief history of American literature.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: American Literature: Video: Edwards and the Transition to Enlightenment
Use the video "Edwards and the Transition to Enlightenment" to consider the two learning outcomes below. It featuring discussions of Raymond Williams's model of culture; Edward Taylor; Jonathan Edwards; Benjamin Franklin; George...
Digital History
Digital History: The Great Awakening
A brief discussion about the Great Awakening, an important religious event that swept across America and included all classes of people in both the cities and countryside.
Other
The Great Awakening
Tells about what caused the Great Awakening, who was involved, and what the effects of it were. Learn a great deal about the Great Awakening at this comprehensive website devoted to this historic religious movement.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking: Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious event that spread across all the colonies. Read about how it was a reaction against the Enlightenment and how it led to many different Protestant denominations.