The SECOND Great Awakening [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 10] Period 4: 1800-1848

Summary

In this engaging video from Heimler's History, the host explores the Second Great Awakening, a transformative period in American religion from 1800 to 1848 marked by fervent revivals among Protestant Christians. Key causes include the influence of the Market Revolution, a rise in democratic and individualistic beliefs, and a shift from rationalism to Romanticism in preaching styles. Notable preacher Charles Grandison Finney exemplified this new emotional and audience-centered approach, promoting moral reform over intellectual discourse. The movement sparked significant societal changes, including various reform initiatives and the emergence of new religious groups, setting the stage for future transformations in American culture.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Second Great Awakening was a series of Protestant religious revivals in the U.S. from 1800 to 1848, focusing on righteous living and personal morality.
• 🔥 It emphasized that salvation was in the hands of individuals, promoting the idea that hard work and moral reform could lead to spiritual success.
• 📈 The movement paralleled the Market Revolution, highlighting that both economic and spiritual success depended on personal effort and dedication.
• 👥 The Second Great Awakening fostered inclusivity, engaging diverse groups including whites, blacks (enslaved and free), men, and women as equal participants.
• 💡 A shift from rationalism to Romanticism characterized this revival, prioritizing emotional experiences over structured philosophical teachings.
• 🎤 Charles Grandison Finney was a key figure, introducing emotive and audience-centered preaching that focused on moral reformation rather than just personal salvation.
• 🚀 The revival sparked numerous social reform movements, such as temperance and abolition, emphasizing collective societal responsibility.
• ✝️ Unlike the First Great Awakening, which emphasized predestination, the Second Great Awakening offered a more optimistic view of individual agency in achieving salvation.
• 🎊 Camp meetings became central to the movement, serving as egalitarian gatherings where passionate preaching attracted large audiences.
• 🔍 The Second Great Awakening had a profound impact on American society, shaping religious practices and inspiring new religious movements, including Mormonism.

Q & A

What was the Second Great Awakening?

The Second Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals among Protestant Christians that emphasized righteous living, personal restraint, and moral rectitude, aiming for salvation.

How did the Second Great Awakening spread across America?

It spread rapidly through the efforts of Methodists and Baptists who organized camp meetings where multiple preachers delivered emotional sermons.

What economic changes influenced the Second Great Awakening?

The Market Revolution taught individuals that their economic success or failure depended largely on their own efforts, which paralleled the spiritual messages of the Second Great Awakening.

How did the messages of the Second Great Awakening differ from the First Great Awakening?

The Second Great Awakening emphasized personal responsibility for salvation, contrasting with the First Great Awakening's belief that salvation was solely in the hands of God.

What demographic did the Second Great Awakening primarily engage?

The Second Great Awakening predominantly involved the lower classes, including both free and enslaved Blacks, and was characterized by egalitarian participation.

How did Romanticism influence the preaching style during the Second Great Awakening?

Romanticism encouraged emotional expression over rational thought, leading to less structured and more emotionally charged sermons, especially by preachers like Charles Grandison Finney.

Who was Charles Grandison Finney, and what was his contribution?

Charles Grandison Finney was a prominent preacher of the Second Great Awakening who pioneered a new style of preaching focused on emotional engagement and societal moral reform.

What were some social movements spurred by the Second Great Awakening?

The Second Great Awakening inspired various reform movements, including the temperance movement and new religious groups such as Mormonism.

What role did camp meetings play in the Second Great Awakening?

Camp meetings were crucial as they provided a communal space for revivalist preaching, fostering inclusivity and widespread participation in the movement.

How did the Second Great Awakening impact American society at large?

The Second Great Awakening significantly influenced American religious practices and social reform, promoting individual moral responsibility and paving the way for various social justice movements.