Abstract:
The Great Revival of the 18th and 19th centuries saw a radical change in the attitude of North Carolina from Godlessness to religious enthusiasm. Aside from this significance, the movement produced a curious phenomenon which has fascinated psychologists ever since -- \"exercises.\" The exercises of revivalists are described as \"falling down,\" and later \"jerking,\" acts supposedly brought on at the height of religious frenzy during an evangelist's sermon.