A.P. U.S. History
Mr. Krueger
THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION
RELIGIOUS REVIVALS

1830-1831 – Revivals in the North
Charles G. Finney led the revival in Rochester, NY.
 Heavy Drinkers and irregular church goers now change
their tune
 Followers of Finney attempt to get others to convert
 Evangelical Protestantism provided the middle class
with a strong sense of identity and purpose
 Finney hoped that religious conversion and moral uplift
would spread on its own
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Religious reform: Attacks on alcohol, slavery, war,
and government
Imposed new order and cultural unity
 Instilled more radical movements that threaten to
undermine established institutions.
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REVIVALISTS AND JACKSONIANS

Evangelical revivalists in a way were similar to
Jacksonians:
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Difference:
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Both sought popular favor
Both assumed individuals were free agents capable of self
direction and self improvement
Jacksonians felt common people provided no threat to the
community
Evangelical reformers felt that common people needed to
be redeemed or uplifted.
In the 19th century – American Protestantism was in
constant ferment.
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Spreading the gospel and reforming morals
Ending government funding
Secular ideas as a base for Democratic Republicans
MORE GREAT AWAKENINGS

1801 – a crowd of 50,000 gather at Cane Ridge,
Kentucky – 2nd Great Awakening (South)
Organized by: Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians
 Potentially the only way to get baptized, married, or gain
religious experience was at a camp meeting.
 Promoted a sense of community

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2nd Great Awakening in the North
Small town revivals
 Reform and redemption of the human race – social
changes unlike the South.
 Developed to defend Calvinism – differences between
age groups and the definition of God.
 Women’s movement and temperance movement.

TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT – “DEMON’S RUM”

1820’s – whiskey was popular. Cheaper than
beer and milk, and safer than drinking water.
 Alcohol
consumption was triple that of today.
 Temperance reformers felt alcohol was a threat to
public morality and it threatened families.
 Main target was abusive men.

1830’s – consumption declined by 50%.
WOMEN AND THE AMERICAN FAMILY

Evangelical Culture changed the institution of family
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Triumph of marriage for love – mutual affection a must.
Wives were companions, not servants – egalitarian tone
But the husband was still head of the household
Evangelical movement encouraged feminine influences.
Revivals
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Gave women a role in converting men
Created Christ with feminine characters:
 Merciful
 Loving
 Nurturing

Provided a model for the women’s new role
DISCUSSION

What were the social expectations of women in
this time period?
 Cult
of True Womanhood
 Two Spheres
 Unmarried Women
 Prostitutes
 Sororities
 Feminism
 Childhood
EDUCATION AND ASYLUMS

Horace Mann – most influential spokesman for school
movement
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Established the State Board of Education
Adequate tax base for education
Taught the 3 R’s and protestant ethics
Reformers thought that malcontents could be helped in a
controlled environment
 Previously:
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Insane were allowed to wander
Criminals were whipped and jailed
Paupers were supported by charities
Asylums, prisons, and poor houses created to be
humanitarian, therapeutic, and attempted to reform
Not successful, needed to be improved.
DISCUSSION
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How did reforms turn radical?
 Temperance
 American
Peace Society
 Slavery, Racism, Abolition
FADS AND FASHION
New diets – fruits, veggies, and whole wheat
 Women began to wear loose bloomers
 Phrenology became popular – study of the
shape of the skull to determine aptitude and
intelligence
 Séances and contacting the dead
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