The Second Great Awakening

". . . one can almost say that the steady burning of the Revival,…was a central

mode of this culture's search for national identity." — Perry Miller, The Life of the Mind in America: From the Revolution to

the Civil War

What was The 2nd Great Awakening? 1790-1840

Period of religious revival following the American Revolution

Camp meeting s

Women played a major role

Charles Grandison Finney, Peter Cartwright

Evangelical contributions changed social aspects of American life

1839 Methodist camp meeting

The Camp Meeting Phenomenon of

American frontier Christianity

Due to the movement of thousands to what had once been unknown wilderness

The curious and sincere flocked to the meetings and “camped out”

Music & Hymn Singing Main aspect of camp

meetings

Focused on Rote learning or sheer memorization

Collections of camp meeting hymns published to help propagate the evangelical teachings of the meetings

These hymns were comprised of everyday language and Scripture phrases

Young people all, attentiongive,

While I address you in God's name;

You who in sin and folly live,

Come hear the counsel of a friend:

I sought for bliss in glitt'ring toys,

And rang'd the ‘luring scenes of vice,

But never found substantial joys,

Until I heard my Saviour's voice. ..”

Music & Hymn

Singing

The Woman’s Role

At the time, Women threw themselves into benevolent Christian work due to the complete exclusion from politics which they faced.

As a result, women were the leaders in spreading the teachings of Awakening to others. Frank Leslie's Illustrated

Newspaper, Women, active in camp meetings, early 1800's

Peter Cartwright▪ (1785-1872)

Early American “hellfire and brimstone” minister preacher

Helped start 2nd Great Awakening

Baptized 12,000 people

Preached benevolence

Lost to Abraham Lincoln for Congress seat in 1846

“…and then and there I promised the Lord that if he would spare me, I would seek and serve him; and I never fully broke that promise”.

Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875)

“The Father of Modern Revivalism”

Made significant innovations in preaching and religious meetings

Author of Religious Revivals and many other publications

Very opinionated and an avid criticizer of other Christian teachings

Other Implications…

American Christians took it upon themselves to reform society during this time.

Women’s rights, abolitionism, temperance, etc.