Second Great Awakening APUSH: The Definition You Need

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Second Great Awakening APUSH: The Definition You Need

The Second Great Awakening, a period of religious revival in the United States spanning roughly from the 1790s to the 1840s, significantly impacted American society and culture. Understanding its nuances is crucial for success in APUSH (Advanced Placement United States History). This article provides a comprehensive definition and explores its key characteristics, impact, and lasting legacy.

Defining the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening wasn't a single event but a series of religious revivals characterized by fervent preaching, emotionalism, and a focus on personal conversion. Unlike the First Great Awakening, which primarily affected the established churches, the Second Great Awakening saw the rise of new denominations and a broader reach across social classes. It emphasized individual experience and responsibility in achieving salvation, contrasting with the more formal, intellectual approach of earlier religious movements.

Key Characteristics of the Second Great Awakening:

• Emotionalism and Revivalism: Powerful sermons, often delivered outdoors to large crowds, aimed to evoke intense emotional responses leading to personal conversion experiences. Camp meetings became a prominent feature of this revivalism.
• Mass Conversions: Thousands embraced newfound faith during these revivals, dramatically increasing church membership across various denominations.
• New Denominations: The movement led to the rise of new Protestant denominations, including the Methodists and Baptists, which experienced explosive growth. These denominations appealed to a broader range of people, including those outside the traditional elite.
• Social Reform: The religious fervor of the Second Great Awakening fueled various social reform movements, including abolitionism, temperance, and women's rights. The belief in individual moral improvement extended to advocating for societal change.
• Transcendentalism: While not directly a religious movement, Transcendentalism, with its emphasis on intuition and the inherent goodness of humanity, shared some philosophical overlap with the Second Great Awakening's emphasis on individual spiritual experience.

Impact of the Second Great Awakening on American Society:

The Second Great Awakening profoundly impacted American society in several ways:

• Rise of Religious Pluralism: The emergence of new denominations and the widespread participation in revivals fostered a more diverse and pluralistic religious landscape.
• Social Reform Movements: The focus on personal morality fueled significant social reform movements, challenging established societal norms and advocating for change. The abolitionist movement, for instance, gained significant momentum due to the religious convictions of many of its participants.
• Expansion of Education: The desire to spread religious ideals contributed to the establishment of numerous colleges and seminaries, including Oberlin College, known for its early commitment to coeducation and abolitionism.
• Increased Political Participation: Religious enthusiasm encouraged greater participation in political and social life, as individuals felt empowered to make a difference in the world. This contributed to the growth of reform movements and political activism.

Key Figures of the Second Great Awakening:

Several key figures played crucial roles in shaping the Second Great Awakening:

• Charles Grandison Finney: A prominent Presbyterian minister and lawyer, Finney was a master of revival preaching and significantly influenced the movement’s emphasis on individual conversion and social reform.
• Joshua Beecher: A prominent Congregationalist minister and father of Harriet Beecher Stowe (author of Uncle Tom's Cabin), Beecher played a key role in disseminating the ideas of the Second Great Awakening through his preaching and writings.
• Lyman Beecher: Another prominent Congregationalist minister and father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lyman Beecher was a vocal advocate for social reform and played a significant role in shaping the movement’s direction.

Lasting Legacy of the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening left a lasting legacy on American society and culture:

• Shaped American Morality: The emphasis on personal morality and social responsibility continues to influence American values and political discourse.
• Foundation for Social Reform: The movement provided the foundation for many of the social reform movements of the 19th century, including abolitionism, women's suffrage, and temperance.
• Influence on American Literature: The Second Great Awakening's themes of personal experience, social reform, and the search for meaning strongly influenced American literature of the period.

Understanding the Second Great Awakening is essential for a thorough grasp of 19th-century American history. Its impact resonates even today, shaping the religious, social, and political landscape of the nation. By mastering this key concept, you'll be well-equipped to excel in your APUSH studies.