Chapter: 8 Section: 1 Religion Sparks Reform

Vocabulary Revival- A religious gathering designed to reawaken faith through impassioned preaching Second Great Awakening- a 19th century religious movement in which individual responsibility for seeking salvation was emphasized, along with the need for personal and social improvement. Transcendentalism- a philosophical and literary movement of the 1800s that emphasized living a simple life and celebrated the truth found in nature and in personal emotion and imagination. Civil Disobedience- the refusal to obey those laws which are seen as unjust in an effort to bring to bring about a change in government policy. Utopian Communities- an experimental community designed to be a perfect society, in which its members could live together in harmony.

Key figures Charles Grandison Finney- American minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the US. Another name for him is Father of Modern Revivalism. Ralph Waldo Emerson- American essayist, lecturer and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid- 19th century. Henry David Thoreau- American essayist, poet, abolitionist, historian and philosopher among other professions. Dorothea Dix- American activist on behalf of the indigent insane who created the first generation of American mental asylums.

Second Great Awakening Religious movement, swept U.S. after 1790 Organizing process that helped to give meaning and direction to people suffering in various degrees from the social strains of a nation on the move into new political, economic and geographical areas. Evangelical movement Dramatic religious conversions Focus on individual salvation and social reform

Second Great Awakening Revivalism: -Roving preachers set up revival camps -Proacted meetings -Charles Finney: “Father of modern revivalism” -Increase in church membership -Revival—gathering to awaken religious faith; lasts 4 to 5 days •Revivalism greatly increases church membership

Transcendentalism Led by Emerson and Thoreau Truth found in nature, emotion, and imagination Dignity of the individual Promoted self-reliance, optimism, freedom Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau puts self-reliance into practice, writes Walden Thoreau urges civil disobedience, peaceful refusal to obey laws

African-American church Camp meetings, Baptist, Methodist churches open to blacks and whites Southern slaves interpret Christian message as promise of freedom In East, free African Americans have own churches African Methodist Episcopal Church— political, cultural, social place

Summary To sum it up The second Great Awakening was a period of religious revivals. The Methodist and Baptist grew significantly. The overall purpose was to bring back commitment of faith and renew the importance of religion. This gave Christians a greater sense of unity.