2nd Great Awakening Revival of religious feeling in the early 1800’s Purpose was to improve American morals Preachers known as revivalists Evangelical: they used strong emotions to reach people Charles Grandison Finney- A preacher, known as the “father of revivalism”

Separation of Church and State Intended to protect religious groups and practices Europe had state controlled churches that limited religious freedoms The Separation of Church and state is NOT in the Constitution Our religious rights are protected under the 1st amendment

African Americans and the Church Freedman (free African Americans) established the AME African Methodist Episcopal Church Slaves embraced Christianity as well Offered hope Promised eternal freedom church was not founded in Africa, nor is it exclusively for people of African descent. It is open and welcoming to people of all ethnic groups, origins, nationalities, and colors, although its congregations are predominantly made of up Black Americans

Joseph Smith and the Mormons Joseph Smith: Founder of the Mormon religion Church of Latter-Day Saints Published the book of Mormon at age 24 Members of this church frequently faced persecution adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent

The Mormons Face Persecution Early Mormons practiced polygamy Multiple wives Looked down on by mainstream society Mormons also all voted the same way This meant that had great political power wherever they lived

The Mormons Face Persecution Joseph Smith moved the Mormons to Nauvoo, Illinois Here, Smith was murdered Brigham Young wanted a place of safety for Mormons He brought them to Salt Lake in Utah

Discrimination Against Catholics Many Americans feared Catholics would be more loyal to the pope, than to the U.S. Most immigrants were Catholic Nativists and others distrusted or disliked immigrants

Discrimination Against Jews Long history of discrimination throughout the world Jews were actually prevented from holding political office in the early 1800’s

Utopian Communities Utopian: To aspire to be perfect These communities sought to share property, work, and family life Examples: Brook Farm, Boston 80 people share all work. Failed in 6 years New Harmony, Indiana 1,000 people living cooperatively. Failed in 2 years Oneida, New York Cooperative living environment, lasted 30 years

Shakers Another “utopian” group was the Shakers Religious communal movement with 6,000 members by the 1840s Men and women lived in separate housing Men and women did not marry or have children Why might this movement have a hard time growing?

Transcendentalism Belief that humans could “transcend” their senses to learn Individuals should listen to nature and their own conscience to learn “truths” Questioned organized religion, materialism, and capitalism Believed in an intuitive way of thinking as a means for discovering truth and god, not through reason, but through introspection and exposure to nature Believed artistic expression was more important that material wealth

Ralph Waldo Emerson Transcendentalist poet and author Supported abolition of slavery Supported individualism Nationalism: urged Americans not to imitate European Culture, but to create an American culture Self-reliance: advocated individualism and independent thinking 1850s became a leading critic of slavery Supported the Union during the Civil War

Henry David Thoreau Transcendentalist author and philosopher Supported abolition of slavery Supported civil disobedience peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws Inspired later non-violent movements of Gandhi and Martin Luther King