The Second Great Awakening began in the 1790s and reached its peak in the 1830s and 1840s. It was fueled by a number of factors, including the frontier experience, the rise of Methodism and Baptism, and the growing sense of social reform.
The Second Great Awakening was characterized by mass revivals, where hundreds or even thousands of people would gather to hear sermons and sing hymns. These revivals often lasted for days or even weeks, and they were often accompanied by emotional outbursts, such as weeping, shouting, and dancing.
The Second Great Awakening had a number of significant impacts on American society. It helped to promote the spread of Christianity, and it played a role in the rise of social reform movements, such as the abolitionist movement and the temperance movement. It also helped to shape the American character, and it is often credited with giving rise to the idea of the "American dream."
Some of the key figures of the Second Great Awakening include:
* Charles Grandison Finney: Finney was a Presbyterian minister who was a leading figure in the Second Great Awakening. He was known for his powerful sermons and his ability to inspire people to conversion.
* Lyman Beecher: Beecher was a Congregationalist minister who was another leading figure in the Second Great Awakening. He was the father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
* William Miller: Miller was a Baptist minister who predicted that the world would end in 1843. His predictions led to a widespread religious movement known as Millerism.
The Second Great Awakening was a time of great religious and social change in the United States. It had a profound impact on the nation, and it continues to shape American society and culture today.