What was the Second Great Awakening?
The Second Great Awakening was prompted by falling interest in religion when people were excited about the innovations of the Industrial Revolution and the rapid expansion of U.S. territories, particularly in the west. People did not have the time or the inclination for worship. Exuberant revivalist meetings ignited the interest in religion. The camp-meetings featured zealous preachers who applied Christian teaching to the resolution of the social problems of the day. The Second Great Awakening began in 1800 and was in decline by 1850.

The Second Great Awakening began in 1800 in New England, New York, Kentucky and Tennessee. Most of the religious revivals in the West occurred as camp meetings and also served as social gatherings with the opportunity to trade.

Why was the Second Great Awakening different to the First Great Awakening?
The Second Great Awakening differed to the first as the focus of the revival meetings moved from traditional evangelism and conversion, to recruiting people into different denominations. The aim of reviving faith in the Christian religion was uppermost, hence the terms 'revival' and 'revivalists', but unlike the First Great Awakening, the Second Great Awakening not only encompassed the Protestant religion but also encouraged the participation of Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists.

What was the Purpose of Second Great Awakening?

The Second Great Awakening sought to awaken the consciences of people. It sought to change the beliefs and lifestyles of people by the adoption of virtues such as temperance, frugality and the ethic of hard work. It also sought to awaken people to the plight of the less fortunate in society, such as slaves, convicts and the handicapped, and work to make their lives better. Many of the preachers believed that the Gospel not only saved people, but also it was a means to reform society. The enthusiastic preachers believed that every person could be saved through revivals.