Put the Preachers in Jail: The Great Awakening in Connecticut The First Great Awakening in 1740 sparked a revival of religious ideals throughout the world and spread throughout the colonies Americans. The results of the Great Awakening not only brought about a great religious revival within the colonies, but also established the need for religious rights. The Great Awakening also initiated a shift in society's philosophy toward a more individual and independent mindset, directly preparing the country for revolutionary war. The areas of the country where the Great Awakening hit hardest were the Connecticut Valley and the Massachusetts Colony. The Connecticut Valley was also the area of ​​the most radical revivalism and the beginning of a rebellious mentality within the colonies. The Great Awakening revived the religiously decadent nation by creating new religions and breaking religious and cultural norms. It also brought forth “New Lights,” new followers of religion who opposed traditional ways and religious practices. Connecticut was also the region with the largest gap between the New Lights and the Old Lights. As tensions increased between the New Lights and Old Lights, conflicts erupted in Connecticut. The conflicts that arose caused the Connecticut government to create many acts that prohibited preaching in the state by revivalists from other states. The conflicts and issues that arose during the Great Awakening in Connecticut brought to light ideas of rights that ultimately formed the foundation of subsequent American society and shed light on the inalienable rights of religious freedom. (colonialwarsct.org) Issues in the New England colonies during the Great Awakening led to a change in m...... middle of paper ......d people to fight for religious freedom rights and separation of Church and State. Connecticut had experienced the most radical repercussions of the Great Awakening. Connecticut has implemented strict laws against preaching in order for the official church to maintain authority. The actions of the Old Lights in Connecticut became a direct example of the settlers' responsibility to promote individual rights and religious freedom. The radical events and acts in Connecticut rapidly increased the spread of the Great Awakening, informed people of their responsibilities, and gave rise to rights in America that became the basis of American society. The Great Awakening in Connecticut became a major catalyst for the creation of an independent philosophy in America, an act of struggle for freedom of religious expression, and the beginning of the Revolutionary War.