Which preacher is credited with starting the Great Awakening and emphasized that individuals could understand the gospel without church intermediaries?

George Whitefield is often credited with helping to spark the Great Awakening, a significant religious revival that swept across the American colonies in the 18th century. His powerful and emotive preaching style attracted widespread attention and drew large crowds, helping to spread evangelical fervor and promote a more personal connection to faith. Whitefield emphasized the importance of personal experience and understanding in relation to the gospel, advocating for the idea that individuals could have a direct relationship with God rather than relying solely on church authorities or intermediaries.

While Johnathan Edwards, Johnathan Mayhew, and Gilbert Tennent were also prominent preachers during this period and contributed to the Great Awakening, Whitefield's influence and the national scope of his preaching made him a central figure in this movement, particularly in terms of popularizing the notion of individual spiritual experience. His efforts helped challenge established church practices and encouraged a more democratic approach to religion that resonated with many colonists during that time.