The Second Great Awakening which occurred during the late 18th and early 19th centuries was a time characterized by increased religious fervor across the whole of America. Although, many areas seemed more susceptible to this religious fervor such as upper New York State, which eventually became known as the Burned-Over District or the state of Kentucky which was the center for numerous religious revivals characteristic of the era. In many ways the Second Great Awakening was a reaction to drastic social, cultural and economic change that was occurring. The results of industrialization changed traditional American society. Before Market Revolution most Americans were connected by their families and relatives in a network of relationships. By the early 19th century a large migration had occurred as western lands opened up to settlement. This movement helped destroy the relationship that many relied on. American’s definition of success also became hollower. As a result of these changes many people began to ask questions some of these questions were religious. These questions would be the foundation of the Second Great Awakening, a movement that would have lasting effects on American Society.
Before the Second Great Awakening, America was not a religious country; it was because of this movement that it became one. It is important to remember that America was not founded by a group of religious men as we often believe. Yes, most of the founding fathers believed in God, but that was about the extent of their belief system. Most of the founding fathers were deists. They believed that there was a God, but believed that after he created the world, he took a step back, that is, He no longer meddled with the affairs of men. As a result of the Second Great Awakening America became an increasingly religious nation. For example, at the time of independence there were fewer that 2,000 Christian ministers within the United States. By 1845 there were over 40,000 Christian ministers. It was the Second Great Awakening that helped transform the United States into a religious nation.
Another theme of the Second Great Awakening was the democratization of Christianity. Initially those who wanted to become religious ministers were required to attend college for several years. During the Second Great Awakening this notion changed. Those who wished to be ministers were no longer required to be theologians, rather any person with an interest in preaching was allowed to do so, all that was required was knowledge of scripture and a desire to preach. Religion was for everyone, whites, blacks, men, women; all were allowed to participate in the religious fervor that gripped the nation.
Another important effect that the Second Great Awakening had on American history was the fact that that the movement gave way for many reform movements and increased social awareness. Before the Second Great Awakening slavery was a social problem, after this movement slavery became a religious issue. In his Second Inaugural Address Abraham Lincoln stated, “If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove…” Slavery was not the only issue that was effected by the Second Great Awakening. Issues of temperance, enfranchisement or women, and other social issues but were slightly smaller compared to slavery. It is quite possible that the Second Great Awakening played a pivotal role in occurrence of the Civil War.
The Second Great Awakening also played a key role in the emergence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church, I believe, has had an enormous effect on the history of the United States and the history of the World. Due to the religious fervor of the time Joseph Smith prayed to our Heavenly Father to know to which church to join. As a result of his humble prayer the church was restored and now is a major world religion with a membership of over 13 million.
