Second Great Awakening

Definition

The Second Great Awakening was a widespread religious revival movement in the United States during the early 19th century, characterized by fervent preaching, emotional conversion experiences, and an emphasis on personal piety. This movement encouraged individuals to seek personal relationships with God and played a crucial role in inspiring various social reform movements, including abolitionism, temperance, and women's rights.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Second Great Awakening led to the establishment of numerous new religious denominations, including the Methodists and Baptists, which emphasized personal faith and emotional experiences.
2. Camps meetings became popular during this revival, where people gathered in large numbers for preaching, singing, and communal worship.
3. The movement promoted the idea that individuals could achieve salvation through personal effort, encouraging a sense of agency among participants.
4. It inspired various reform movements beyond religion, including the abolition of slavery, as many revivalists viewed slavery as a sin against God.
5. Key figures like Charles Finney emerged as influential preachers during this time, advocating for moral reform and social justice as extensions of religious belief.

Review Questions

• How did the Second Great Awakening influence the development of abolitionism in the United States?
  • The Second Great Awakening profoundly influenced abolitionism by instilling a sense of moral urgency among its followers. Many revivalists viewed slavery as a sin that contradicted Christian values, leading them to advocate for its abolition. This moral framework inspired individuals to join the abolitionist cause, creating a network of religious leaders and activists who campaigned against slavery as a fundamental injustice.
• In what ways did revivalism shape the social landscape of America during the early 19th century?
  • Revivalism transformed the social landscape by fostering community involvement and activism around various reform issues. Through large gatherings and camp meetings, people were encouraged to express their beliefs and work collectively towards societal change. This spirit of cooperation not only revitalized religious life but also spurred movements such as women's rights and temperance, reflecting a broader commitment to reforming society based on moral convictions.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Second Great Awakening on American society and its institutions.
  • The long-term effects of the Second Great Awakening significantly shaped American society by embedding a culture of reform into its fabric. As new religious denominations emerged and existing ones transformed, there was an increased emphasis on social responsibility tied to faith. This laid the groundwork for later social justice movements, including civil rights and environmentalism, demonstrating how religious revival can influence not just individual spirituality but also institutional change across various sectors of society.

Related terms

Abolitionism: A social and political movement aimed at ending slavery in the United States, gaining momentum during the Second Great Awakening.

Revivalism: A religious practice characterized by large public meetings aimed at inspiring spiritual renewal and conversion among participants.

Transcendentalism:

A philosophical movement that emerged in the 1830s and 1840s, emphasizing individual intuition and the inherent goodness of people and nature.