THE SECOND GREAT
AWAKENING
The Rebirth of Religious Revival
Focus Question
• Why do changes in the economy spark
reforms in other sectors of life?
First Amendment
• Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
Establishment Clause
• Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion
• What does this mean?
Free Exercise Clause
• Congress shall make no law …prohibiting the free
exercise thereof;
• What does this mean?
Role of Religion remained strong in the U.S.
• Church attendance remained high
• Most adhered to some form of Christianity
• Most states disestablished official churches
• Jefferson’s “Wall of Separation”
Role of Religion in American Life
The Second Great Awakening
1790s through 1840s
• Rebirth in religious sentiment
• Growth of religious denominations
• New debate between mainline and evangelic
Protestantism
Growth of “Liberal” Theology
• Deism common among Founders.
• Relied on Reason, not Revelation
• Approached theology with logic
• Unitarianism
• Stressed that man was good
• God seen as loving father
• Stressed good works
• “New Light” Protestantism
Reaction Set In
• Many disagreed with the softening of old teachings
• Others concerned over the changes in the country
Growth of Revivals
• Revivals spread from the frontier throughout the nation
• Utilized “camp meetings” led by itinerant
preachers
• Focused on the audience
• Easily understood
• Offered salvation for all
• Characterized by ecstatic frenzies of activity
• Flourished in western New York – the “burned
over” district
Church Membership Expanded
• New sects promoted “democratic” forms
• Preachers required little formal training
• Stressed an itinerant ministry
Impact on Denominations
• Evangelical churches flourished
• Mainline faiths saw a
drop in numbers
Role of Women
• “Feminized” religion
• Middle-class women became the most fervent
participants
• Preachers gave women a role in bringing their families
to God
• Women took to the forefront in benevolent crusades and
reforms
New Denominations
• Millerites (Adventists)
• Believed Christ would come to Earth on October 22, 1844
• Faded, but continued as the Seventh Day Adventists
New Denominations
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• Based teachings on the Book of Mormon
• Established a strong, disciplined hierarchy
• Often developed difficulties with non-Mormon neighbors
• Moved from New York to Ohio then Missouri to Illinois
• Finally settled in Utah
Impacts
• Promoted social reform
• Temperance
• Mental Health
• Prison Reform
• Promoted calls for women’s rights
• Expanded Abolition Movement