The Great Awakening, a series of religious revivals in the 18th century, significantly impacted American religious practice by promoting individual piety and questioning traditional authority. It emphasized personal relationships with God, emotional worship, and the idea of being "born again." With itinerant preachers like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, the movement encouraged widespread participation in religion, breaking denominational barriers and fostering a sense of American identity. It also contributed to the rise of new denominations and sects, nurturing a spirit of egalitarianism and freedom that would later resonate with American democratic values and the push for independence.