The Second Great Awakening and The Antebellum Social Reform

wave of religious rivals 1790-1840
key idea: millenarianism * 2nd Coming of Christ was immanent, humanity nearing the end of the history * US had. a divine mission to redeem the world by its example
like First Great Awakening, the Trans-Atlantic was linked to similar movements in Britain
highly emotional new forms of worship (controversial)
tied to social, economic, and political changes
many schisms and new sects
common theological points: * individual choice in salvation * emotional conversion * personal relationship with God
unlike the First Great Awakening: * broader and more diverse * rejected predestination * anyone could interpret the scripture * remaking society, not just religion * social reform movements started * utopian experiments

same forces led to social reform movements
middle class Christian reformers create a “Benevolent Empire” * private organizations tackle numerous issues * poverty * prostitution * prison and asylum reform * child labor * alcohol * healthcare * slavery * women used domesticity to claim their leading roles * duty to safeguard morality obligated them to reform society