Overview of the Second Great Awakening

Similarly, the awakening is just another instance in history where religious institutions seek to win over new believers by putting done any rational thought that came from the Enlightenment in years previous which may put religion aside as possibly unnecessary. The Second Great Awakening was important because it revitalized society with religious piety and a daily embrace of god in everyday life. It changed Native American and African American societies, bringing their cultures closer to those of white

The Second Great Awakening had its start in Connecticut in the 1790s and grew to its height in the 1830s to 1840s. Beginning the revolution, the largest denominations were Congregationalists, Anglicans, and Quakers; however, by the early 1800’s, Evangelical, Methodism, and Baptists were on the rise in the nation. During the time of the Awakening in United States history, churches experienced a more complete freedom from governmental control, opening the doors of opportunity to a great spiritual awakening in the American people. This awakening focused on areas of both religious and social issues of the time, which were important to the religious movements and the nation as a whole. The Second Great Awakening was driven by such issues, which included a focus on the increase in “evils” associated with the recent rise of industry and a lack of the political ideals of freedom of choice.

THE FIRST GREAT AWAKENING The First Great Awakening was an extremely important religious revival that moved through the American colonies. This spiritual revival took place in the American colonies around 1730 to 1760. The First Great Awakening was able to gain a lot of momentum because of the influential preaching that taught the citizens of these colonies that the only way to salvation was by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Many of the colonists believed that they lived proper and just lives by attending church and doing good deeds. It was by the strong influential preaching that took place during the Great Awakening that preachers informed these believers that their works and good deeds would not save them; only salvation through

Why do we need another Great awakening? When I think of an Awakening, even after our class, my mind immediately goes to images of eighteenth century revivalists like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, Jereena Lee and a large constellation of other preaching giants of yesteryear. These men and women created a legacy of spiritual fervor which has earned them a place in the annals of American religious history. Their effectiveness as preachers of the word and proclaimers of truth permeated a nation’s consciousness and snatched the nation from spiritual decline. Several questions arise as I think of the Awakenings of years past.

He set off the wave of religious revival, as preachers traveled all across the colonies, attracted thousands of people to revival meetings of spiritual rebirth, gave impassioned sermons, and encouraged people to rededicate themselves to God (Danzer, 38). Although after the First Great Awakening America's religious zeal faded, its influence in religion was the beginning step (www.wikipedia.org). The Second Great Awakening's religious cycle took a bigger step in trying to turn the religious tide. Starting in New York during the early 1800s, the movement spread north, south, and west before ending during the 1840s (Klepp, 2). The Second Great Awakening's religious portion came about through the replacement of the predestination doctrine with the belief that anyone, whether they be sinners or not, can achieve salvation through the internal and external struggle against sin.

The Great Awakening was a movement that set out to revive the piety of the faithful and to convert nonbelievers. (American Promise, p.131). Influential people like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield preached powerful sermons to win the hearts of the nonbelievers and refresh the believers that were losing their faith. “Whitefield’s preaching transported many in his audience to emotion-choked states of religious ecstasy.”(American Promise, p.131). “The revivals awakened and refreshed the spiritual energies of thousands of colonists struggling with the uncertainties and anxieties of eighteenth-century America.”(American Promise, p.131) People living in the 18th century needed a safe house.

Evangelicals have made numerous strides in American Society throughout the years. Evangelicalism is a term referring to movements that brought forth a series of revivals in seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, also known as The Great Awakenings. Revivals have occurred in almost every church age. The First Great Awakening changed modern evangelism and how churches are conducted today. It is important to understand what the Great Awakening was, what caused it, and what effects the Great Awakening created.

But why did these moral reform movements happen, why were they so concentrated in that era, and what gave them force? The Industrial Revolution caused a massive social upheaval as business markets expanded and interpersonal relationships became more numerous. In the midst of all this change, people sought stability in religion and moral reform movements grew directly out of those religious convictions. The first half of the nineteenth century was marked by great economic, and therefore social, upheaval. After America won the War of 1812, it turned to internal improvements.

Shakers were pioneers of the principles of form and function advocated later by architects and designers. The Shakers, or United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, are the most enduring and successful of the many communitarian societies established in America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The first Shakers, led by Ann Lee, came to America from Manchester, England, in 1774 seeking a place to freely practice their religious beliefs. Near Albany, New York, they established the foundation for a unique sect which has endured for more than 220 years. The early Shakers traveled through New England and New York, attracting converts who were impressed by the kind of personal, spiritual relationship with God preached by Ann Lee.

Through the means of renewed religious enthusiasm, a movement spread throughout the young nation seeking to reverse the spiritual apathy that had set in many of its Christian adherents. With the growing diversity of American settlers on the frontier and within the states, the charismatic leaders of the Second Great Awakening reached out to the common man. Although there is no specific date that pinpoints the inception o... ... middle of paper ... ...rary.org/catalogues/1792ff/finley.html. Finney, Charles Grandison. Lectures on Revivals of Religion.