AMSCO 4.10 (The Second Great Awakening)

Second Great Awakening

A series of religious revivals starting in 1801, based on Methodism and Baptism. Stressed a religious philosophy of salvation through good deeds and tolerance for all Protestant sects. The revivals attracted women, Blacks, and Native Americans.

Timothy Dwight

President of Yale College, he helped initiate the Second Great Awakening. His campus revivals inspired many young men to become evangelical preachers.

Charles Grandison Finney

An evangelist who was one of the greatest preachers of all time (spoke in New York City). He also made the "anxious bench" for sinners to pray and was against slavery and alcohol.

Millennialism

much of religious enthusiasm of the time was based on the widespread belief that the world was about to end with the second coming of Christ; preacher William Miller gained tens of thousands of followers by predicting a specific date when the second coming would occur (didn't happen-Millerites will become Seventh Day Adventists)

Joseph Smith

religious leader who founded the Mormon Church in 1830 (1805-1844)

Bringham Young

successor of Joseph Smith, leading Mormons in Utah. Eventually became a governor.

New Zion

After Brigham Young migrated to the far western frontier, this religious community was established on the banks of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Their cooperative social organization helped the Mormons to prosper in the wilderness

Mormons

Church founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, religious group that emphasized moderation, saving, hard work, and risk-taking; moved from IL to UT

Great Awakening (1739-1744)

A sudden outbreak of religious fervor that swept through the colonies. One of the first events to unify the colonies.

Jonathan Edwards

Preacher during the First Great Awakening; "Sinners in the hands of angry God"

George Whitefield

Christian preacher whose tour of the English colonies attracted big crowds and sparked the First Great Awakening.

Cotton Mather

Puritan theologian, who urged the inoculation against smallpox, played a role in Salem Witch Trials

New Lights/Old Lights

The "New Lights" were new religious movements formed during the Great Awakening and broke away from the congregational church in New England. The "Old Lights" were the established congregational church.

Cane Ridge Revival

religious revival in 1801 in Kentucky galvanizing Protestants. As many as 25,000 people may have come to the August meetings.

James Finley

Great Awakening pastor, Presbyterian, traveled with evangelist George Whitfield

Burned-Over District

Popular name for Western New York, a region particularly swept up in the religious fervor of the Second Great Awakening.

Peter Cartwright

Best known of the Methodist "circuit riders" (traveling frontier preachers). Sinewy servant of the Lord ranged for half-century from Tennessee to Illinois, calling upon sinners to repent.

anxious bench

bench at or near the front of a religious revival meeting where the most likely converts were seated