Lecture Notes: The Second Great Awakening (Unit 4, Topic 10 - AP U.S. History)

Summary

In today’s lecture, we explored the causes and impacts of the Second Great Awakening, which occurred during the period of 1800-1848. This movement, marked by a series of religious revivals among Protestant Christians, emphasized righteous living and moral rectitude as paths to personal and societal salvation. Key topics included the comparison with the Market Revolution, changes from the First Great Awakening, and the influence of democratic ideals and Romanticism on religious practices.

Definition and Characteristics

• Definition: The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival emphasizing personal restraint and moral rectitude leading to salvation.
• Spread and Influence: Spread through camp meetings organized by Methodists and Baptists, featuring emotive preaching and participation from diverse social classes.

Causes of the Second Great Awakening

1. Influence of the Market Revolution

• Parallel with Market Ideals: The Market Revolution taught that economic success was controllable through personal effort, which mirrored the Awakening’s spiritual message of personal responsibility in achieving salvation.

2. Democratic and Individualistic Ideals

• Democratization of Religion: There was a growing desire for broader participation in democracy, paralleled in religious practice where lower classes found a more egalitarian platform in the movement.

3. Rejection of Rationalism in Favor of Romanticism

• Emotional and Romantic Influence: Reflective of the Romanticism era, this Awakening favored emotional engagement over intellectual reasoning in religious practices.

Key Figures

• Charles Grandison Finney: A pivotal preacher in the Second Great Awakening who employed emotive and audience-centered preaching, focusing on societal moral reformation rather than strict personal salvation.

Contrasts with the First Great Awakening

• First Great Awakening: Leaders like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield preached Calvinist doctrines emphasizing predestination, with structured, philosophical sermons.
• Second Great Awakening: More emotive, less cerebral preaching focusing on individual moral responsibility and societal reform.

Implications and Follow-up Movements

• Societal Reform: The awakening spurred various social reform movements, including temperance and new religious movements like Mormonism.

Conclusion

The Second Great Awakening was not only a significant religious movement but also a reflection of broader social changes during the period, including shifts in economic, democratic, and philosophical thought systems. This period set the stage for future reform movements that would reshape American society.

Stay tuned for the next video, where we will explore the specific reform movements sparked by the Second Great Awakening. Remember to review these key points in preparation for your exams.