The Second Great Awakening - part 3

Summary

The Second Great Awakening (1820-1840) was a period of religious revival in early 19th century America, promoting a democratic approach to religion and sparking numerous new religious movements. These included the Shakers, Oneida Community, and Mormons, each with unique beliefs and practices. The Awakening also fueled significant social reform movements, notably the abolitionist and temperance movements. The revival's message of personal salvation and moral improvement inspired campaigns to end slavery and promote societal change, leading to a lasting impact on American politics, culture, and religion.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival in the early 19th century, peaking between 1820–1840, influencing many aspects of American society.
• 😀 The movement promoted the idea of creating heaven on earth and encouraged a more democratic approach to religion, emphasizing personal relationships with God.
• 😀 The Second Great Awakening led to the emergence of several new religious movements in America, including the Shakers, Oneida Community, and Mormons.
• 😀 The Shakers practiced celibacy, gender separation, and ecstatic circle dancing, but their community eventually faded out due to their celibacy rules.
• 😀 The Oneida Community, led by John Humphrey Noyes, promoted 'free love' and complex marriage, where traditional marriages did not exist and members could have relationships with anyone.
• 😀 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism) was founded by Joseph Smith, who claimed to have received a divine vision and new scripture in the form of the Book of Mormon.
• 😀 After Joseph Smith’s death, Brigham Young led the Mormons to Utah, where the church grew and became a major religious group in the United States.
• 😀 Oneida Silverware, a well-known brand, has its origins in the Oneida Community’s religious experiments, showing how religious movements can leave lasting commercial legacies.
• 😀 The Second Great Awakening was also crucial in fostering social reform movements, especially the abolition of slavery, by emphasizing the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of God.
• 😀 Abolitionist leaders like Harriet Beecher Stowe, daughter of Second Great Awakening preacher Lyman Beecher, used religious conviction to argue for the end of slavery, ultimately contributing to the Civil War.
• 😀 The Second Great Awakening illustrated how religion, politics, economics, and culture were intertwined during this period, leading to profound social changes still felt today.

Q & A

What was the Second Great Awakening, and when did it occur?

The Second Great Awakening was a period of religious revival in the United States, primarily from 1820 to 1840. It marked a surge in religious fervor and a shift toward a more democratic and personal approach to religion.

How did the Second Great Awakening affect the way people related to each other in business and society?

The Second Great Awakening coincided with major changes in American society, such as the expansion of democracy and territorial growth. This period emphasized individualism and personal salvation, which also influenced social and business relationships by promoting more egalitarian ideals.

What were some of the major religious movements that came out of the Second Great Awakening?

Some major religious movements emerging from the Second Great Awakening include the Shakers, the Oneida community, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons).

What was the significance of the Shakers as a religious community?

The Shakers were a religious group that practiced celibacy and believed in living a simple, pure life. They were known for their ecstatic worship practices, including circle dances, which earned them their name. However, due to their celibacy, the community eventually declined.

What was the concept of 'complex marriage' practiced by the Oneida community?

The Oneida community, led by John Humphrey Noyes, practiced 'complex marriage,' which meant that traditional individual marriages were not recognized. Members were encouraged to engage in relationships with whomever they wished, based on the belief that earthly attachments, including to a spouse, should be disregarded.

How did the Mormons, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, come into existence?

The Mormons were founded by Joseph Smith, who claimed to have been visited by an angel and given gold plates containing a new scripture, the Book of Mormon. Despite facing persecution, particularly due to their practice of polygamy, they eventually moved west to Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young.

What role did the Oneida community play in the development of Oneida Silverware?

The Oneida community, although it did not survive, made money by manufacturing silverware. The Oneida Silverware company is a direct descendant of this communal experiment and continued until 2006.

How did the Second Great Awakening influence social reform movements?

The Second Great Awakening inspired several social reform movements, most notably the abolitionist movement. Reformers, motivated by their belief in equality and the idea that all people had the right to salvation, campaigned against slavery, ultimately contributing to the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

How did religious beliefs during the Second Great Awakening contribute to the Abolitionist Movement?

The Second Great Awakening fostered the belief that all people, regardless of race or status, were equal in the eyes of God. This belief motivated many to fight against slavery, as they saw it as a moral perversion that contradicted Christian teachings about equality and the value of every soul.

What other social reform movements were linked to the Second Great Awakening aside from abolition?

Other social reform movements linked to the Second Great Awakening included the Temperance Movement, which aimed to reduce alcohol consumption, with the belief that a godly society should be free from drunkenness to maintain stable families and communities.