CAUSES of the SECOND Great Awakening [APUSH Review]

The Second Great Awakening was a massive religious revival in the first half of the 19th century, spurred by changes in the US economy, society, and politics. It shared similarities with the First Great Awakening as both were widespread religious movements that provided common experiences and language, and both led to the rise of new Christian denominations.

The First Great Awakening emphasized Calvinism, individual sin, and conversion, with preachers believing in predestination. In contrast, the Second Great Awakening (1790-1840) focused on the innate goodness of humans, their capacity for holy lives, and the potential for societal reformation through religious conversion, aiming to bring the kingdom of God to earth through social reform.

The expansion of democracy and suffrage in America influenced the Second Great Awakening by shifting from the elitist doctrine of predestination (First Great Awakening) to a more democratic notion that salvation was open to all. This was evident in camp meetings on the frontier, which featured diverse attendees, including white, black (enslaved and free), and women, with some even becoming preachers. Denominations like Baptists and Methodists, especially the Methodists with their circuit riders like Peter Cartwright, grew rapidly due to this inclusive approach.

The growing belief in the triumph of the individual, influenced by Transcendentalism, emphasized personal agency. Second Great Awakening preachers used this individualistic language to encourage personalized religious conversions and direct that power towards societal reformation.

The Second Great Awakening was a reaction against the rationalistic beliefs of the Enlightenment, such as Deism, which viewed God as a distant 'cosmic clockmaker' and rejected emotionalism in religion. Second Great Awakening preachers, similar to the emotionalism in romantic art, rejected this dry intellectualism in favor of highly charged emotional appeals to inspire conversion. Figures like Charles Grandison Finney focused on urban populations, using eloquent and emotional sermons to advocate for social reforms like temperance and abolition, believing these actions would usher in a perfect kingdom of God. The 'burned-over district' in Western New York exemplifies the intense emotionalism and widespread conversions achieved during this period, setting the stage for future social reform movements.