Which early religious movement played a key role in developing democratic thought and individual freedom-- ideas which helped usher in the American Revolution?

Between 1720 and 1770, a Christian revitalization movement, called the First Great Awakening, impacted colonial America with the Word of God. Far from traditional rituals and ceremonies, it was characterized as a great evangelizing wave that conveyed the good news through many preaching sessions conducted in many cases outdoors. It was a revolutionary form of faith that fostered a deep spiritual sense through introspection and offered the light of the Gospel to Native Americans and slaves from Africa.

Contrary to the dogmas of the classical church, the First Great Awakening also emphasized the importance of the individual and his personal religious experience. Under the protective mantle of the Lord, he had a great role in the unification of the colonies and set a precedent in the ideas that led to the American Revolution. The Christian preachers of this era were the best defenders of autonomy.