1. 1st v. 2nd Great Awakenings
1st Great Awakening (1730’s/1740’s)
2nd Great Awakening (early 1800’s-1850)
What led to the revival? (Similarity)
Movement away from religion; liberal ideas infiltrating into traditional religious thought and practice
How can you be saved? (Difference)
Only through God’s grace (you, the individual, are powerless)
Who was most influenced by the revival? (Similarity)
While the movement made it’s way through the colonies, it resonated the most on the frontier
The more prosperous and educated a congregation, the less impact the revival had
What led to the revival?
Too much reason, science, evidence, logic (too much Enlightenment thinking)
Deism
How can you be saved?
The individual can bring about their own salvation through good works; make the world around you a better place
Who was most influenced by the revival?
The west and frontier south (Baptists, Methodists see the biggest surge in church membership); Burned-Over District in western New York
The more prosperous and educated a congregation, the less impact the revival had

2. Effects: Similarities
Both Awakenings led to increased church membership in Protestant churches (see chart below for the increase in church membership with the 2nd Great Awakening)

3. Effects: Similarities
Both Awakenings led to new churches/congregations emerging
Both Awakenings injected emotionalism into churches
1st Great Awakening: Emotional “New Light” preachers emerged (led to splits in some established churches)
2nd Great Awakening: The congregations most open to emotionalism grew the most (Methodists and Baptists); camp meetings
Both Awakenings led to the creation of universities
1st Great Awakening: “New Light” universities in New England: Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Rutgers
2nd Great Awakening: small denominational universities arise in the south and the west

4. Effects: Differences
Women were enthusiastic and active participants in the 2nd Great Awakening (more than the 1st Great Awakening), and enter churches in large numbers.
Women are even allowed to preach (Charles Grandison Finney in the “Burnt Over District”)
The 2nd Great Awakening is more “democratic” than the 1st
Everyone can be saved (all social classes, all races, all education levels)
Women can preach and become influential members of churches
The 2nd Great Awakening leads to various social reforms (save yourself, make the world a better place)
Temperance, education, women’s rights, prison and asylum reform, abolition