Cause: Second Great Awakening
Causes of the Second Great Awakening
Traditional Protestantism was rejected in the 1830's out of disillusionment with conservative Puritan ideas of predestination and a judgmental Old Testament God as well as with the more liberal beliefs such as Unitarianism that lacked emotional appeal.
Traditional Protestantism was rejected in the 1830's out of disillusionment with conservative Puritan ideas of predestination and a judgmental Old Testament God as well as with the more liberal beliefs such as Unitarianism that lacked emotional appeal.
Methods of the Movement
Leaders such as Charles Grandison Finney, a lawyer turned minister from New York, were motivated to inspire new followers to rejoin churches, especially in remote frontier areas of their states. They also sought to inspire young people who had drifted away from their faith. Great Awakening ministers advertised outdoor, non-denominational camp meetings, preached in a moving, compelling manner, and brought judgment on the use of alcohol and slavery as practices that would prevent salvation. Missionary societies arose to support these preachers.
Leaders such as Charles Grandison Finney, a lawyer turned minister from New York, were motivated to inspire new followers to rejoin churches, especially in remote frontier areas of their states. They also sought to inspire young people who had drifted away from their faith. Great Awakening ministers advertised outdoor, non-denominational camp meetings, preached in a moving, compelling manner, and brought judgment on the use of alcohol and slavery as practices that would prevent salvation. Missionary societies arose to support these preachers.
“A revival may be expected when Christians have a spirit of prayer for a revival. That is, when they pray as if their hearts were set upon it. When Christians have the spirit of prayer for a revival. When they go about groaning out their hearts desire. When they have real travail of soul.”
--Charles Grandison Finney
Effect of the Revivals
The effects of this second American religious revolution were most felt in the north and old northwest. The region where it all began in western New York experienced so many passionate revivals it came to be known as the "burned over district". New denominations that appealed to the hearts and emotions of believers arose leading to new Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist churches. Women in particular were motivated to witness and pray out loud for a congregation, propelling them to more public roles in faith. Some Great Awakening leaders also reached into other areas of reform based upon their religious convictions. For example, Finney, under recommendation of abolitionist Theodore Weld, would found the department of theology at the new utopian Oberlin Collegiate Institute-with the promise that Oberlin would admit black students and guarantee freedom of speech.
The effects of this second American religious revolution were most felt in the north and old northwest. The region where it all began in western New York experienced so many passionate revivals it came to be known as the "burned over district". New denominations that appealed to the hearts and emotions of believers arose leading to new Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist churches. Women in particular were motivated to witness and pray out loud for a congregation, propelling them to more public roles in faith. Some Great Awakening leaders also reached into other areas of reform based upon their religious convictions. For example, Finney, under recommendation of abolitionist Theodore Weld, would found the department of theology at the new utopian Oberlin Collegiate Institute-with the promise that Oberlin would admit black students and guarantee freedom of speech.