The Great Awakening of the 1740’s refers to ?

The Great Awakening was a massive religious revival that took place in the United States in the 1730s and 40s. The inspiration for the movement came from the Methodists in Great Britain and was an attempt to purify Christianity of its more worldly elements.
At the forefront of the Awakening was the charismatic minister Jonathan Edwards. He sought to bring the faithful back to more important matters, the age-old religious principles of worship and doctrine established by Reformers such as John Calvin. The American colonies were becoming increasingly prosperous. But the headlong dash for wealth was corrupting souls, thought Edwards, making people start to question some of their traditional beliefs.
Like any orthodox Calvinist, Edwards passionately believed that everyone needed to be reminded of how deeply sinful they were. He was a powerful, compelling preacher and used his considerable oratorical skills to drive home the message to growing audiences. Soon thousands were gathering from all around to the hear the old-time Evangelical religion being preached with vigor and passion by Edwards as well as the English minister George Whitefield.
The Great Awakening had considerable political, as well as religious, significance. Thanks to the likes of Edwards and Whitefield, the ministry was no longer seen as the preserve of a social and cultural elite. A people's religion began to emerge, unleashing a spirit of democracy and religious liberty that helped lay the foundations for the American Revolution.