The great awakening was a prerequisite for the birthing of the Negro spiritual. This was a period of religious regeneration that swept the American colonies in the mid-eighteenth century, which introduced Christianity to many. Slaves were mixed into the Christianity population. They worshipped in secret due to the fact that they were prohibited from forming their own assembly without White supervision.
In the U.S, churches prohibited drumming and dancing which ruled out most religious dances especially from African descent. Since the ring shouting generally did not use musical instruments other than clamping and stomping, it was allowed in churches after the formal worship.
As the tradition developed in slavery times, strong elements of Christian belief were grafted onto it. The ring shout was first described in detail during the Civil War (1861-65) by outside observers in coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia.