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Our country was founded on religion. Our forefathers came to this country seeking religious freddom from persecution in their homelands. Throughout American history, it has been the home to countless religious groups and sects - from the Pilgrims to the Protestants. And it is throughout our American history that times have been tough for some, leading to a series of religious revivals. In the 1730's and 40's, religious unrest was at its peak - the Puritan experiment was in decline, King Philip's war was going on overseas, and fires and crop failures were common occurances. The Great Awakening was born out of these unfortunate circumstances. The Great Awakening created several positive changes in the early American society. The First Amendment was fomed out of the need to seperate Church and state, and religious communication became a focus. Newspapers, pamphlets, and other prints became widely availabel and used to exchange ideas. New forms of preaching also arose out of the Great Awakening - one of spontaneous persuasive sermons and rhetoric. Finally, it brought a sense of democracy to the people