Religion in the US
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19thCenturyExpansionSecondGreatAwakening.pptThe 19th Century and Religion
The 19th century was the era of national expansion and growth of the US.
By 1900, the 13 original states of the Atlantic seaboard had become 45 states and 75 million people.
Major factors in this expansion were:
- 1803, Louisiana Purchase (from French)
- 1819, Florida acquired (treaty with Spain)
- 1846, Pacific Northwest acquired (treaty with Great Britain)
- 1848, Southwestern US acquired (ceded after Mexican-American war)
19th Century and Religion
- This expansion and growth was fueled by immigration.
- Immigrants increased religious diversity. In particular, with the Irish immigration of the 1820’s-1840’s, the Roman Catholic presence dramatically increased.
- The late 19th century also saw an increase in Jewish and Eastern Orthodox immigration.
- We will return to these important stories.
19th Century and Religion
- Beyond the increase in religious diversity owing to immigrants who brought their own religion, there was a proliferation of new religious groups that sprang up on US soil. Many survived. Many did not. We will return to examine all of the following groups that began in the US in the 19th century and are still significant groups today:
- Restoration churches
- Holiness churches
- Seventh Day Adventists
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Christian Scientists
- Mormons
19th Century and Religion
- The 19th century also saw the explosive growth of Baptist and Methodist groups.
- In 1776, the Methodist church had not yet formed and Baptists were the third largest denomination.
- By 1900, Baptists and Methodists were the largest Protestant groups and they remain so today.
Baptist and Methodist Growth
- Many factors were behind the growth of Baptist and Methodist groups.
- Among these factors was the fact that they were open to what was called the “Second Great Awakening.”
- This was a revival of religion from approximately 1800-1840 that was nation-wide (that is why it is called a “Great” Awakening).
Second Great Awakening: Context
- The first Great Awakening occurred in the colonies in the 1740’s.
- It brought a number of innovations, including interdenominational meetings and open-air, emotional preaching and worship.
The Second Great Awakening
- The Second Great Awakening also had interdenominational meetings and emotional preaching and worship.
- What was particularly distinctive about it was the development of “revivalist” techniques.
The Second Great Awakening
The preacher most notable for developing these techniques was Charles Finney (1792-1875). He bluntly proclaimed that if one followed his techniques, a revival would occur.
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Second Great Awakening
- Finney’s techniques included working with churches for advanced promotion of a revival, heart-felt singing, dramatic yet simple preaching that convicted one of sin and promoted a conversion experience whereby one would experience God’s grace and transformation of life.
Second Great Awakening: Results
- One result of the Second Great Awakening is that revivalism became a permanent feature in American religious life. As media outlets developed in the 20th century, revivals became national events. Many Protestant groups still promote revivals today.
Second Great Awakening: Results
- Another result of the Second Great Awakening was cooperation among Protestant groups. In the early 19th century at the height of the Awakening, a number of interdenominational organizations arose:
- American Bible Society (1816) promoted the publication of English translation Bibles
- American Sunday School Union (1824) promoted educational materials for Protestant groups.
- American Tract Society (1825) promoted simple messages of Protestant ideals for conversion and transformation of life
Second Great Awakening: Results
- A final result of the Second Great Awakening was the growth of Protestant groups influenced by it.
- Many Protestant churches grew and many Protestant groups were convinced the Awakening signified God’s blessing on what they regarded as a predominantly Protestant country.
- The Protestant groups enjoying the greatest growth were Baptists and Methodists, each of which are described in a separate PowerPoint.
Second Great Awakening
- While the Second Great Awakening was successful in reviving religion, it was also controversial. Many ministers disliked the blurring of denominational lines in the common revivalist meetings. They disliked the show of emotions in revivalism or the simple message of salvation or conversion that was promoted. They favored more orderly worship and church structure. They favored a more nuanced and complex understanding of the Christian message and Christian life.
