Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

Which event is considered a significant turning point in American colonial religious life?

1. The Reformation

2. The Enlightenment

3. The Great Awakening

4. The French and Indian War

The correct answer is: The Great Awakening

The Great Awakening is considered a significant turning point in American colonial religious life because it represented a profound shift in religious sentiment and practice among the colonies during the 18th century. This movement revitalized many congregations and led to increased religious enthusiasm, emotional expression in worship, and challenges to established authority within churches. During the Great Awakening, itinerant preachers such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards played key roles in promoting a new style of worship that appealed to a broader audience. The movement emphasized personal faith, the necessity of being "born again," and direct, emotional experiences of God, thus democratizing religion and making it more accessible. This period also fostered a sense of shared identity among the colonists, as it crossed denominational boundaries and cultivated a spirit of independence and questioning of traditional authority. These characteristics not only influenced religious life but also had broader implications for American society, encouraging ideas of equality and individual rights that would later pervade the American Revolution. In contrast, while the Reformation and the Enlightenment had important historical impacts—shaping the context of American thought and governance—they were not events that occurred specifically within the American colonies. The French and Indian War, meanwhile, was primarily a military conflict that reshaped territorial