PAUL HARVEY

Thomas Kidd summarizes some of his thoughts on the Great Awakening in "The Surprisingly Democratic Roots of Evangelicalism." He argues:

In our time when popular books warn of the theocratic intentions of conservative American Christians, it may seem surprising that in early evangelicalism we find one of the most powerful resources of egalitarian and democratic thought in American history. But in countless scenes like that of Mrs. Whipple’s exhortation, the Great Awakening of the eighteenth century opened new opportunities for traditionally silent people to lead and speak in the most important social institutions of colonial America, the churches.

Bedford Books also has published Kidd's The Great Awakening: A Brief History With Documents, a most useful classroom resource.