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The Second Great Awakening—Reform in America

The Second Great Awakening—Reform in America. How important is religion in society? What is its role in society?. Observing Faith in America. 1850: 75% of Americans attended church regularly. noted by French observer Alexis de Tocqueville. New Faiths Challenge the Old. Deism

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The Second Great Awakening—Reform in America

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  1. The Second Great Awakening—Reform in America How important is religion in society? What is its role in society?

  2. Observing Faith in America • 1850: 75% of Americans attended church regularly. • noted by French observer Alexis de Tocqueville

  3. New Faiths Challenge the Old • Deism • Faith rejected • Rejected the divinity of Christ • Supreme being made the universe but the stood back • Deists: Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine • Unitarianism • God existed in 1 person ("uni") • Rejected the divinity of Christ • Believed people were essentially good at heart • Believed people were saved through "good works" • Important Unitarians: Ralph Waldo Emerson.

  4. The Old Fights Back • Revival movement reached height in 1830's. • Emotional, appealing to the common classes, and was a national movement. • Led to other movements: prison reform, temperance (movement to ban alcohol), and abolition of slavery. • Missionaries went to Christianize Native Americans. • Leading preachers of the 2nd Great Awakening: Peter Cartwright and Charles Grandison Finney

  5. Religion and Class • The gap between the classes and regions were widened by the 2nd Great Awakening. • Generally, the poor, rural, less-educated, Southerner or Westerner became a Methodist or Baptist. • Generally, the wealthier, urban, more-educated, Easterner or person on the coastline stayed Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, or became Unitarian. • Slavery was a divisive issue to the churches (the Methodist and Presbyterian churches split over this).

  6. Denominational Diversity • Western New York: "Burned-Over District" due to the hellfire of its revival preaching. • Other religious sects were spawned. • The "Millerites" (AKA Adventists) • predicted Christ's return on October 22, 1844. • When this prophesy failed the movement died out • The Mormon faith would also begin at this time.

  7. Mormons • In 1830, Joseph Smith claimed to have found golden tablets in NY with the Book of Mormon inscribed on them. • "Mormon" or "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." • Religion included • Polygamy (having multiple wives) • Developing their own a militia • Voting as a block. • Joseph Smith was killed Brigham Young led the Mormons along the "Mormon Trail" to Utah. • The Mormons quickly grew in number due to high birth rates. • The issue of polygamy delayed Utah's statehood until 1896.

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