Religious Revivalism and Utopian Idealism

Second Great Awakening 1797 – – 1859 The Second Great Awakening began among frontier farmers of Kentucky The Second Great Awakening began among frontier farmers of Kentucky Spread quickly among Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians Spread quickly among Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians Central ideas: Christians have a moral duty to improve the world in which they live; entrance to Heaven is gained through acts of faith Central ideas: Christians have a moral duty to improve the world in which they live; entrance to Heaven is gained through acts of faith

Tent Revivals During the Awakening, traveling ministers would set up tents and preach, often for up to a week at a time During the Awakening, traveling ministers would set up tents and preach, often for up to a week at a time Singing, prayers, motivational sermons, and speaking in tongues were all designed to whip up the crowd into emotional protestations of faith Singing, prayers, motivational sermons, and speaking in tongues were all designed to whip up the crowd into emotional protestations of faith

Charles G. Finney 1792 – – 1875 Revivalist Presbyterian minister Revivalist Presbyterian minister Allowed women to participate in public prayer (not a normal practice at the time) Allowed women to participate in public prayer (not a normal practice at the time) Preached that everyone has the ability to gain salvation through repentance and good works that demonstrate faith in God Preached that everyone has the ability to gain salvation through repentance and good works that demonstrate faith in God Planned and rehearsed his revival sermons Planned and rehearsed his revival sermons

Lyman Beecher 1775 – – 1863 Revivalist Presbyterian minister Revivalist Presbyterian minister Father of author Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) Father of author Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) Preached that citizens, not government, have to be responsible for building a better society Preached that citizens, not government, have to be responsible for building a better society Strongly nativist (anti- immigrant) and anti- Catholic Strongly nativist (anti- immigrant) and anti- Catholic

Benevolent societies Developed in larger towns and cities in response to the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening Developed in larger towns and cities in response to the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening Main goal was to spread Protestant Christianity, but soon began to focus on social issues such as alcoholism, prison reform, education reform, and slavery Main goal was to spread Protestant Christianity, but soon began to focus on social issues such as alcoholism, prison reform, education reform, and slavery Surprisingly, many of these societies were led by women Surprisingly, many of these societies were led by women

“True Womanhood” Also called “The Cult of Domesticity” Also called “The Cult of Domesticity” Belief at the time was that a woman’s responsibility was to be a homemaker and a model of Christian piety and virtue to their children and husband Belief at the time was that a woman’s responsibility was to be a homemaker and a model of Christian piety and virtue to their children and husband This implied that wives were their husbands’ social equals and their moral superiors This implied that wives were their husbands’ social equals and their moral superiors Women interpreted this to mean that they had the responsibility to build a moral society in which to raise their families, so they assumed a role of social activism Women interpreted this to mean that they had the responsibility to build a moral society in which to raise their families, so they assumed a role of social activism

Revivalism and abolition Most revivalist ministers were staunch supporters of the abolitionist (anti- slavery) movement Most revivalist ministers were staunch supporters of the abolitionist (anti- slavery) movement They taught that slavery was sinful because it destroys the soul of the master and the body of the slave They taught that slavery was sinful because it destroys the soul of the master and the body of the slave

New American Religious Groups

The Unitarian Church Believe Jesus was not the Son of God, but was an important teacher – there was no Virgin Birth, no miracles, and no Resurrection Believe Jesus was not the Son of God, but was an important teacher – there was no Virgin Birth, no miracles, and no Resurrection God is a unity (God is One), not a Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) God is a unity (God is One), not a Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

The Universalist Church Believe in Universal salvation – there is no Hell and God redeems everyone because He loves everyone (Omni-benevolence) Believe in Universal salvation – there is no Hell and God redeems everyone because He loves everyone (Omni-benevolence) God would not create a person knowing that they were doomed to eternal damnation God would not create a person knowing that they were doomed to eternal damnation

The Mormon Church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Started in New York, but were the victims of harassment and persecution over their unique religious beliefs, including the addition of a third testament to the Bible (The Book of Mormon) and practice of polygamy (having multiple wives) Started in New York, but were the victims of harassment and persecution over their unique religious beliefs, including the addition of a third testament to the Bible (The Book of Mormon) and practice of polygamy (having multiple wives) After leaving New York, the group eventually resettled in Illinois After leaving New York, the group eventually resettled in Illinois

Joseph Smith 1805 – – 1844 Founder of Mormonism and recorder of The Book of Mormon – which he claimed to have received from an angel – which describes how the Israelites arrived in America around 600 BC and were later visited by Jesus Founder of Mormonism and recorder of The Book of Mormon – which he claimed to have received from an angel – which describes how the Israelites arrived in America around 600 BC and were later visited by Jesus Had numerous legal problems in Missouri and Illinois which eventually led to his arrest Had numerous legal problems in Missouri and Illinois which eventually led to his arrest Murdered by an anti- Mormon mob in 1844 while awaiting trial Murdered by an anti- Mormon mob in 1844 while awaiting trial

Brigham Young 1801 – – 1877 President of the Mormon church from President of the Mormon church from After Smith’s death, he led the Mormons west to the remote Utah Territory to escape persecution, founding Salt Lake City, which remains the unofficial “capital” of the Church today After Smith’s death, he led the Mormons west to the remote Utah Territory to escape persecution, founding Salt Lake City, which remains the unofficial “capital” of the Church today Had 55 wives, but most were widows he married in order to become financially responsible for them and their children Had 55 wives, but most were widows he married in order to become financially responsible for them and their children

Utopian Communities Attempts to establish social equality by building communities where all work, responsibilities and rewards are shared equally by the citizens Attempts to establish social equality by building communities where all work, responsibilities and rewards are shared equally by the citizens

New Harmony, Indiana Town which was bought in 1824 by a utopian group with the intention of transforming it into a perfect socialist community Town which was bought in 1824 by a utopian group with the intention of transforming it into a perfect socialist community No private property, no money were allowed No private property, no money were allowed The community failed and was dissolved in 1829 The community failed and was dissolved in 1829

Oneida Community, NY Founded by John Noyes in 1848 in Oneida, NY; lasted until 1881 Founded by John Noyes in 1848 in Oneida, NY; lasted until 1881 All members of the community worked in a factory making silverware (Oneida Flatware) All members of the community worked in a factory making silverware (Oneida Flatware) Every man was married to every woman in the community (a practice called complex marriage) Every man was married to every woman in the community (a practice called complex marriage) Older women introduced young men to sex, while older men did the same for young women Older women introduced young men to sex, while older men did the same for young women Efforts were made to breed more perfect children by careful selection of breeding partners; children were then raised by the community rather than by specific parents Efforts were made to breed more perfect children by careful selection of breeding partners; children were then raised by the community rather than by specific parents Community only reached a maximum size of about 300, but still managed to produce two men who would later assassinate US presidents! Community only reached a maximum size of about 300, but still managed to produce two men who would later assassinate US presidents!

Brook Farm Community Founded in 1841, near west Roxbury, MA Founded in 1841, near west Roxbury, MA Community of Transcendentalist philosophers Community of Transcendentalist philosophers Citizens shared all labor, and used their free time for intellectual discussion Citizens shared all labor, and used their free time for intellectual discussion Community collapsed economically after being destroyed by fire in 1847 Community collapsed economically after being destroyed by fire in 1847

Shakers The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing Founded by Ann Lee (who Shakers believed to be the Second Appearing of Christ) in England; offshoot of the Quakers Founded by Ann Lee (who Shakers believed to be the Second Appearing of Christ) in England; offshoot of the Quakers No marriage allowed, lifelong celibacy required No marriage allowed, lifelong celibacy required Shakers would adopt orphans to keep communities alive Shakers would adopt orphans to keep communities alive All work and living quarters were divided by sex, but the sexes were equals All work and living quarters were divided by sex, but the sexes were equals Peaked in mid 1800s with about 6000 members, today only 3 known practitioners in the US Peaked in mid 1800s with about 6000 members, today only 3 known practitioners in the US