American History

The Second Great Awakening is the term used for the great revival of religiosity in the antebellum United States. A great wave of revived interest in religion, and preaching of gospel and conversions mark the period. One of the most prominent figures of the Second Great Awakening is Charles G. Finney. The era is also marked by efforts of several religious or secular societies in establishing utopian communes or neighborhoods.

The Second Great Awakening made a profound impact on the American society and it helped to shape it in its current form. The awakening affected every aspect of life and every part of the American society. People, regardless of gender, race and social status all were affected. The important thing was that it was more than a religious impact. One of the major impacts was disengaging of the government from every kind of religious affairs like disestablishment of state churches. Another important change was the rejection of many Calvinist beliefs and theories like Human sinfulness, helplessness and impossibility of salvation for all. It also led to individualism, gender equality and rejected the popular demonizing emblem of Calvinism regarding women as the source of original sin. The main emphasis was on salvation for anyone who repents, forgiveness and divine love. In this manner the 2nd awakenings theology was more democratic and optimistic in nature.

Moreover, since majority of the people of the United States were Protestants the increased religiosity in the people also sparked anti-Catholicism, which is marked by many fictional tales regarding sexual abuses of nuns for like the memoirs of Maria Monk. Moreover the revival increased the urge to integrate religious and spiritual life in the daily and everyday life increased and literature regarding this also emerged. The Mother at home is such an example, which gives a detailed guideline for Christian mothers how to raise their children so that they can become pious and perfect Christians as adults. These books reveals about the anti-Catholic sentiment among the American people, who mostly were Protestants, though were not religious fanatics. The second book gives us insight about the feeling of integrating religious teachings in daily life in the people of early republic. This led to the publication of books like The Mother at Home.