The Great Awakening

American Minute from William J. Federer

Seven times he preached in America to crowds of 25,000, spreading the Great Awakening Revival, which helped unite the Colonies prior to the Revolution.

Ben Franklin wrote in his Autobiography: "He preached one evening from the top of the Court-house steps...Streets were filled with his hearers...I had the curiosity to learn how far he could be heard by retiring backwards down the street...and found his voice distinct till I came near Front-street." Franklin was describing George Whitefield, who died SEPTEMBER 30, 1770.

Franklin wrote of George Whitefield: "Multitudes of all denominations attended his sermons...It was wonderful to see."

Ben Franklin printed George Whitefield's sermons and financed construction of the largest building in Philadelphia for his meetings, which later became the first building of the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin wrote to George Whitefield: "I sometimes wish you and I were jointly employed by the Crown to settle a colony on the Ohio...a strong body of religious and industrious people!...Might it not greatly facilitate the introduction of pure religion among the heathen, if we could, by such a colony, show them a better sample of Christians than they commonly see in our Indian traders?"

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.