Second Great Awakening

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Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1790, gained momentum by 1800, and, after 1820, membership rose rapidly among Baptist and Methodist congregations whose preachers led the movement. It was past its peak by the late 1840s.

Background

The Second Great Awakening reflected Romanticism characterized by enthusiasm, emotion, and an appeal to the super-natural. It rejected the skeptical rationalism and deism of the Enlightenment. The revivals enrolled millions of new members in existing evangelical denominations and led to the formation of new denominations.

Key Figures

Prominent figures of the Second Great Awakening include Charles Grandison Finney, Lyman Beecher, Barton W. Stone, Peter Cartwright, and James Finley. These leaders emphasized personal piety over schooling and theology.

Impact

The Second Great Awakening had a profound impact on American society. It stimulated the establishment of many reform movements designed to remedy the evils of society before the anticipated Second Coming of Jesus Christ. These movements included temperance, abolitionism, and women's rights.

Revivalism

The movement was characterized by enthusiastic camp meetings and revivals. These meetings were often held in frontier areas and were marked by fervent expressions of faith and repentance. The revival meetings were a key feature of the movement and were instrumental in spreading the religious fervor.

Social Reforms

The Second Great Awakening played a significant role in the development of social reforms in the United States. The revivalist movement led to the establishment of numerous societies and organizations aimed at addressing social issues such as slavery, alcoholism, and women's rights. The movement also had a significant impact on the education system, leading to the establishment of many religious colleges and seminaries.

Related Pages

• First Great Awakening
• Charles Grandison Finney
• Lyman Beecher
• Temperance movement
• Abolitionism
• Women's rights

See Also

• Great Awakening
• Evangelicalism
• Methodism
• Baptists

Further Reading

• First Great Awakening
• Third Great Awakening
• Christian revival