Antebellum Reform Movements & 2nd Great Awakening: Key Concepts and Figures

What was the main goal of antebellum reformers?

To improve society and correct injustices such as slavery, women's rights, care for the disabled, and prison reform.

What social movement was the most widespread during the antebellum period?

Temperance

What organization was established in 1833 to promote temperance?

The American Temperance Union

Who were the founders of the women's rights movement?

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott

What significant event in women's rights history occurred in 1848?

The Seneca Falls Convention

What document was drafted at the Seneca Falls Convention?

The Declaration of Sentiments

What did the Declaration of Sentiments declare?

That all men and women are created equal and that laws making women inferior should have no authority.

Who was a prominent advocate for women's suffrage after the Civil War?

Susan B. Anthony

What was William Lloyd Garrison's stance on slavery?

He called for the immediate end to slavery everywhere.

What publication did William Lloyd Garrison produce?

The Liberator

What was the purpose of the American Anti-Slavery Society?

To promote the abolition of slavery through literature and activism.

What was the membership count of the American Anti-Slavery Society by 1840?

160,000 members

What did David Walker's pamphlet, Walker's Appeal, advocate for?

It called out the hypocrisy of slavery and encouraged slaves to revolt for their freedom.

What were the two factions in the abolitionist movement?

Immediatists and gradualists

Who were the Grimke sisters and what did they advocate for?

Sarah Grimke and Angelina Grimke Weld were early activists for abolition and women's rights.

What was the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (AFASS)?

An abolitionist organization founded in 1840 that split from the American Anti-Slavery Society, focusing on moral suasion and individual conscience.

What was a significant barrier faced by women in the abolitionist movement?

Women were often not allowed to speak in organizations with men.

What was the impact of the Great Awakening on reform movements?

It emphasized changing society as a whole rather than individual changes.

How did the rising middle class affect women's involvement in reform movements?

It allowed women to hire maids and focus on societal issues as they were relieved of household duties.

What was a major change in American religious thought during the period of Romanticism?

Americans rejected Calvinist determinism in favor of individual agency to seek salvation.

What was the significance of the 2nd Great Awakening?

It emphasized religion as central to maintaining a moral nation and led to the growth of Protestant churches.

What is Deism?

A belief in a rational God who created a rational universe, emphasizing science and reason over miracles.

What did Unitarianism emphasize?

The natural goodness of God and calm reason over emotional worship, viewing Jesus as a moral guide rather than divine.

What is Universalism?

The belief that God is too merciful to condemn anyone to hell, influential in small circles in New England.

What characterized the Methodist Church by 1860?

It became the largest denomination in the U.S. with 20,000 churches, emphasizing salvation for all who embraced Jesus.

What was a camp meeting?

A gathering where people camped to hear sermons, generating excitement and spreading revivalism across the states.

Who was Francis Asbury?

A circuit-riding evangelist who preached over 16,000 sermons and traveled extensively to spread Methodism.

What role did women play in revivalism?

Women were given equal opportunities to preach and participate in camp meetings, contributing significantly to religious life.

Who was Jarena Lee?

The first woman allowed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, known for her extensive preaching efforts.

What was the 'Burned Over' district?

A region in Western New York known for its intense religious fervor during the Second Great Awakening.

What did Charles Grandison Finney advocate?

He urged people of all backgrounds to exercise free will and do good works to address social issues like alcoholism and slavery.

Who founded Mormonism?

Joseph Smith, Jr., who published the Book of Mormon after claiming to have received revelations from God.

What was the significance of Nauvoo, Illinois, for Mormons?

It was a center for Mormon settlement, where Joseph Smith introduced polygamy, leading to increased hostility towards them.

What is Transcendentalism?

A philosophical movement that emphasized faith, individual intuition, and the spiritual insights found in nature.

What did Ralph Waldo Emerson promote?

Radical individualism and the belief that individuals could achieve God-like powers through self-discovery.

What is the main theme of Henry David Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience'?

The justification for non-violent resistance against unjust laws, influencing future civil rights movements.

What did Thoreau believe about nature?

He viewed nature as the living bible, essential for uncovering hidden meanings and life energies.

What was the impact of revivalism on African Americans?

The African Methodist Episcopal Church sought to include African Americans and played a role in the early civil rights movement.

What was the role of traveling evangelists during the revivalist movement?

They reached frontier communities, offering personal religious experiences and fostering a more democratic culture.

How did the 2nd Great Awakening affect women's roles in religion?

Women became prominent figures in religious movements, often taking on preaching roles and leading community efforts.

What was the relationship between the 2nd Great Awakening and Jacksonian democracy?

Both movements emphasized individual agency and democratic participation, reflecting a cultural shift in America.