The Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening

• Religious revival movement
  
  • Begins in the 1790’s
  • Led to evangelical crusades – second half of 19thcentury
  • Began in New England
• White women become involved in religious revivals and gain a new role outside of the home

Evangelical Crusades

• Ministers support the idea that women are morally superior to men.
  • Ministers and women created a mutually dependent relationship
  • Ministers need women to bring membership into the church
  • Women need ministers to support them in participating in the church
  • A woman’s conversion would lead to family conversion
• Camp Meetings spread and attracted crowds – women gather in groups

Ideology

• Christian virtue could outweigh original sin
• Mothers were responsible for her children’s souls
• Women take this new responsibility and will in time step outside of the home to help correct the behavior of others

Experiences Gained

• Provided:
  • a community outside of the home among like-minded women
  • potential and opportunity for women (specifically white Christian women)
• However, minister’s support also meant control
  • Women were warned to avoid leadership roles

The Next Step

• As time passed, women took the role of being the moral compass for the family
  • In time they will do the same for the community
  • This led to benevolent societies (charities)
  • Learned new skills, network, help their communities and it is a big step in becoming active participants outside of the home.

Benevolent Societies and Moral Reform

• Female societies for pious (religious) purposes opened doors for women’s entrance into public life
  • First 3 decades of the 19th century
  • All emerged out of religious revivals
• To care for the destitute
• To work against poverty and vice – especially in urban areas
• Provide employment for the poor

What They Gained

• Created social and civic networks
• Developed experience in organization and tactics
• Made contributions to benevolence and reform
• Extended their skills they already had
• Provided a steppingstone from domestic life to public life
• The skills gained are the same that will be used for abolition and women’s rights in later years