Question

document 8 the christian history june 30, 1744
the christian history was a periodical published in boston, massachusetts, between 1743 and 1744. each issue contained accounts of religious revivals in great britain and in the colonies. this account describes events in jonathan edwardss efforts in northampton, massachusetts.
in the night after the lords day, october 20, 1727, there was a general and amazing impression throughout new england & the neighboring provinces which, with several other remarkable shocks afterwards, in diverse parts of the land, was a means of awakening many to serious thoughts of god and eternity, and of reviving religion among us.
but a more remarkable revival of religion in this country follows in a time of great security, when there was no visible dispensation of providence to awaken the minds of men, in the years 1734, 45, and 36. an account of this is given in a printed treatise entitled a faithful narrative of the surprising work of god in the conversion of many hundred souls in northampton, in the province of the massachusetts, written by the rev. mr. jonathan edwards, minister of northampton. just after my grandfathers solomon stoddard death, it seemed to be a time of extraordinary dullness in religion: licentiousness for some years greatly prevailed among the youth of the town; there were many of them, very much addicted to night - walking, and frequently the tavern, and lewd practices, wherein some, by their example, excessively corrupted others. it was their manner very frequently to get together, in conventions of both sexes, for mirth and jollity, which they called frolicks. they would often spend the greater part of the night in them, without regard to any order in the families they belonged to, and indeed, family government did too much fail in the town. it was becoming very customary with many of our young people to be indecent in their carriage at meetings, which doubtless would not have prevailed to such a degree, had it not been that my grandfather, through his great age (tho he retained his powers surprisingly to the last), was not able to observe them. there had also long prevailed in the town, a spirit of contention between two parties, into which they had for many years been divided, by which a jealousy was maintained one of the other, and they were prepared to oppose one another in all public affairs.
but in two or three years after mr. stoddards death, there began to be a sensible amendment of these evils; the young people, by degrees left off their frolicking, and grew observably more decent in their attendance on the public worship, and there were more that manifested a religious concern than there used to be. at the latter end of the year 1733, there appeared a very unusual flexibility, and yielding to advice to our young people. it had been too long since their manner to make the evening after the sabbath, and after our public lecture, to be especially the time of their mirth and company - keeping. but a sermon was now preached on the sabbath before the lecture, to show the evil tendency of the practice, and to persuade them to reform it; and it was urged on heads of families, that it should be a thing agreed upon among them to govern their families, and keep their children at home, at these times. but parents found little or no occasion for the exercise of government. in this case, the young people declared themselves convinced by what they had heard from the pulpit, and were willing of themselves to comply with the counsel that had been given; and it was immediately, and, i suppose, almost universally adhered to; and there was a thorough reformation of these disorders thenceforward, which has continued ever since....
close reading a document
when historians study a document, they evaluate sources by analyzing the language and perspectives of the time. this analysis skill is known as close reading. as you read document 8, take notes based on the prompts below:

1. identify how the behaviors of the youth are described and what steps were taken to change the way young people behave.
2. explain what shifts had occurred in the town in terms of religion after 1733.
3. identify evidence from the document about what behaviors and attitudes offended the author.

Explanation:

1. The youth were described as engaging in licentious behavior like night - walking, frequenting taverns, and lewd practices. Steps to change behavior included preaching a sermon to show the evil tendency of the practices and urging family heads to govern their children. The youth were convinced by the pulpit and complied.
2. After 1733, there was more religious concern among the young people. They became more decent in public worship and there was a thorough reformation of disorderly behavior related to post - Sabbath and public lecture times.
3. The author was offended by the youth's licentious behavior such as night - walking, frequenting taverns, and engaging in lewd practices in mixed - sex gatherings. Also, the spirit of contention between two parties in town and family government failures offended the author.

Answer:

1. The youth were described as being addicted to night - walking, frequenting taverns, and engaging in lewd practices. Steps included preaching a sermon to highlight the evil of these practices and urging family heads to keep children home. The youth complied after being convinced by the sermon.
2. After 1733, there was more religious concern among the young, more decency in public worship, and a reformation of disorderly behavior related to religious times.
3. The author was offended by youth's licentious behavior, mixed - sex gatherings for merriment, lack of family government, and the spirit of contention between town parties.