Sarah Mitchell
The Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival in the United States from about 1795 to 1835, was marked by a surge in religious fervour, with large camp meetings and enthusiastic preaching styles leading to a significant increase in church membership. This movement, which cut across geographical boundaries and denominations, was characterized by a shift from Calvinism to Arminianism, emphasizing the ability of individuals to choose salvation and a more optimistic view of humanity. While it is primarily a religious occurrence, the Second Great Awakening had social and political implications, including the emergence of reform movements advocating for temperance, women's rights, and the abolition of slavery. However, it is not clear whether this movement was specifically anti-Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | c. 1795-1835 |
| Religion | Protestant |
| Geography | United States, Canada |
| Theology | Arminianism, Postmillennialism |
| Impact | Temperance, Abolition, Women's Rights |
| Notable Figures | George Fredrickson |
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What You'll Learn
The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant revival movement
The Second Great Awakening was characterised by large camp meetings that led to a significant number of conversions. These meetings featured enthusiastic preaching and audience participation, including singing, praying, and crying for mercy. The style of preaching and the emphasis on individual salvation resonated deeply with many people, leading to a substantial increase in church membership, particularly among Methodist and Baptist churches.
The movement represented a shift in theology from Calvinism to Arminianism, emphasising the ability of sinners to make an immediate decision regarding their salvation. This shift diminished theological differences among evangelical churches, as they now shared a common focus on the potential for salvation and the importance of individual piety. The Second Great Awakening also gave rise to new religious movements, such as Adventism, Dispensationalism, and the Latter Day Saint movement.
The influence of the Second Great Awakening extended beyond the religious sphere, impacting social and political issues. It laid the groundwork for reform movements, including temperance, women's rights, and the abolition of slavery. The religious enthusiasm of the movement intersected with the emerging political enthusiasm of the Second Party System, bringing religious and moral issues into the political arena. This period of antebellum reform reflected a belief among participants that reform was part of God's plan, and local churches saw themselves as agents of societal purification.
The Second Great Awakening played a significant role in strengthening the influence of Protestant religion in American politics. It encouraged active participation in politics by a broader range of the population, allowing religious and moral beliefs to shape national policies and social reforms. The movement's emphasis on individual free will and the potential for salvation for all contributed to a more democratic quality within American Christianity, empowering ordinary people and challenging traditional elite structures.
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It led to a period of social reform and an emphasis on salvation
The Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival in the United States, occurred from about 1795 to 1835. During this period, large camp meetings were held, leading to an unprecedented number of conversions. The movement, which began in Kentucky and Tennessee, soon spread to other regions of the United States and Canada, including Indiana, Ohio, and Canada. The revivals were marked by enthusiastic preaching and audience participation, with an emphasis on individual sins and the need to turn to Christ for salvation.
The Second Great Awakening led to a period of social reform and an emphasis on salvation. The religious fervour of the movement inspired social activism, with evangelists addressing issues such as slavery, greed, and poverty. This laid the groundwork for later reform movements, including the feminist and abolitionist movements. The emphasis on individual salvation and free will encouraged people to take responsibility for their spiritual fates, leading to a more optimistic view of the human condition. This idea of spiritual egalitarianism was a significant transformation, challenging the traditional belief in predestination held by Calvinists.
During this period, the role of women in society also began to shift. Women sponsored benevolent societies that broadened their focus from religious concerns to larger societal issues, such as prison reform and care for the handicapped and mentally ill. The participation of women in evangelical revivals contributed to the emergence of a full-fledged women's rights movement. Additionally, the religious enthusiasm of the Second Great Awakening influenced politics, bringing religious and moral issues into the political sphere. Temperance activists, antislavery advocates, and proponents of other reforms sought to implement their beliefs into national politics.
The Second Great Awakening also led to the founding of several well-known colleges, seminaries, and mission societies. New religious movements emerged, such as Adventism, Dispensationalism, and the Latter Day Saint movement. The movement strengthened the role of Protestant religion in American politics and contributed to the development of Christian Restorationism.
Overall, the Second Great Awakening had a significant impact on American society, leading to social reform, an emphasis on salvation, and a more progressive and optimistic view of humanity.
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It began in Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1790s
The Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival in the United States, began in the Appalachian region of Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1790s and early 1800s. This period of religious fervour and revivalism among Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists, was marked by large camp meetings that led to a significant increase in church membership.
The camp meetings, which were first conducted by preachers James McGready, John McGee, and Barton W. Stone, attracted thousands of people. One such meeting, held in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in 1801, drew a crowd of between 10,000 and 25,000 people. These gatherings were characterised by enthusiastic preaching and audience participation, with multiple ministers preaching simultaneously, and attendees singing, praying, and crying for mercy. The emotional nature of these meetings left attendees deeply moved, and they played a significant role in the growth of the Methodist and Baptist churches.
The Second Great Awakening in Kentucky and Tennessee was part of a broader movement that spread throughout the United States and Canada. The revivals cut across geographical boundaries and thrived in frontier regions. The Methodists, in particular, had an efficient organisational structure that relied on itinerant ministers, known as circuit riders, who travelled to remote frontier locations and established connections with local families they hoped to convert.
The religious revivalism of the Second Great Awakening had a significant impact on society and contributed to the emergence of progressive movements. It led to a shift in theology, with a focus on the ability of individuals to choose salvation and a more optimistic view of human nature. This period also witnessed the founding of new religious movements, such as Adventism, Dispensationalism, and the Latter Day Saint movement. Additionally, the increased participation of women and African Americans in the evangelical revivals laid the groundwork for the feminist, abolitionist, and temperance movements.
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It was less emotional than the First Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival in the United States from about 1795 to 1835, is generally considered less emotional than the First Great Awakening of the early 18th century. This wave of evangelical revivalism led to the founding of numerous colleges, seminaries, and mission societies across the country. It also stimulated several moral and philanthropic reforms, including temperance and the emancipation of women.
The Second Great Awakening was marked by a shift in theology from Calvinism to Arminianism, with preachers emphasizing the ability of sinners to make an immediate decision for their salvation. This shift in theology contributed to a less emotional tone compared to the First Great Awakening. The First Awakening was part of a larger evangelical religious movement that swept across England, Scotland, and Germany, while the Second Awakening was more contained to North America and rejected the skepticism and rationalism of the American Enlightenment.
The Second Great Awakening occurred in several episodes and over different denominations, but the revivals shared many similarities. Revival meetings cut across geographical boundaries, quickly spreading throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, southern Ohio, and other regions of the United States and Canada. The movement was characterized by large camp meetings that led to a significant number of conversions through enthusiastic preaching and audience participation. Despite the emotional responses evoked by these meetings, the Second Great Awakening is still considered less emotional overall than the First.
The success of the Second Great Awakening can be attributed to the innovative organizational techniques of evangelical churches, which were well-suited to the frontier conditions of newly settled territories. Religion became a central theme of the 1830s, with American Protestants branching off into various denominations, all emphasizing the need for revival. The repeated revivals over several decades helped make the United States a much more deeply Protestant nation than it had been before.
In summary, while the Second Great Awakening was a powerful religious movement that transformed the religious landscape of the United States, it is generally considered less emotional than the First Great Awakening. This assessment is based on the shift in theological emphasis, the contained nature of the movement, and the organizational techniques employed by evangelical churches.
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It led to the founding of colleges and seminaries
The Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival in the United States, took place from about 1795 to 1835. During this period, large camp meetings were held, leading to an unprecedented number of conversions through enthusiastic preaching and audience participation. The movement quickly spread throughout Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, southern Ohio, and other parts of the United States and Canada.
The Second Great Awakening was marked by a transition in American religious life, with a shift from Calvinism to Arminianism. This shift emphasised the ability of individuals to choose salvation and suggested that it was open to all, regardless of social status. The new evangelical movement offered a more optimistic view of humanity, empowering people to change their situation for the better.
The religious fervour of the Second Great Awakening led to the founding of numerous colleges and seminaries. Congregationalists, for example, established missionary societies to spread their faith and culture in the western territories. These societies, which included a significant number of women, created a religious and educational infrastructure across the western frontier. They promoted Christian education through publication and education societies, such as the American Bible Society founded in 1816.
The Second Great Awakening also stimulated the establishment of well-known colleges and seminaries. This period of religious revival led to the emergence of new religious movements, including Adventism, Dispensationalism, and the Latter Day Saint movement. The emphasis on education and the establishment of educational institutions during this time period played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of the country.
Overall, the Second Great Awakening's impact extended beyond religious conversions and social reforms; it also contributed to the founding and growth of educational institutions, particularly colleges and seminaries. These institutions further propagated the religious ideals and values that emerged during this period of religious fervour and transformation.
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