What religious development in the American colonies during the 1700s is represented by the described preaching?

The preaching described is best represented by the Great Awakening, which was a significant religious revival movement in the American colonies during the 1700s. This period was characterized by widespread enthusiasm for religion, emotional sermons, and a focus on personal faith. The Great Awakening emphasized a direct relationship with God and the importance of individual spiritual experiences, often through revival meetings where passionate preaching and emotional conversion experiences played central roles.

While the spread of evangelism is an important component of this movement, it is more accurately defined as a broader category of promoting religious beliefs rather than a specific event or period of intense revival. The Great Awakening encapsulated these elements and reflects the heightened religious fervor that swept through the colonies, leading to the formation of new denominations and an increase in the practice of conversion. This revival was pivotal in shaping American religious life and contributed to the development of a distinct American identity. The other options—such as the Protestant Reformation and religious toleration—refer to different contexts or earlier developments and do not directly address the specific revival characteristic of the 1700s in the colonies.