How did the First Great Awakening influence the movement for independence in the colonies?

The First Great Awakening was a period when spirituality and religious devotion were revived. This feeling swept through the American colonies between the 1730s and 1770s.

The Great Awakening notably altered the religious climate in the American colonies. People were encouraged to make a personal connection with God, instead of relying on a minister. It led to a shared awareness of being American because it was the first major, "national" event that all the colonies experienced. Speaking about spiritual equality encouraged colonists to think more about the need for democracy in both church and state.