The Second Great Awakening occurred between the 1790s-1840s and sparked large camp meeting revivals across the United States. Notable figures included James McGready, who organized the powerful Cane Ridge revival in Kentucky that drew over 25,000 people. The revivals were emotional with people experiencing fits, jerks, dancing and other physical manifestations. In the East, Timothy Dwight led a revival at Yale that saw many students convert to Christianity. Charles Finney's preaching also saw many converts, though his teachings on salvation troubled some. The Second Great Awakening had wide social impacts through the spread of reform movements.

1. The Second Great AwakeningThe Second Great Awakening
Mid-1790s to 1840Mid-1790s to 1840

2. The AwakeningThe Awakening
War with the
Barbary Pirates
War of 1812
Monroe
Doctrine
Financial Panic
World Wide
Mission
Movement
Camp Meeting
Revivals
Circuit Riders

3. Did You Know?Did You Know?
●
Half of those who took up circuit ridingHalf of those who took up circuit riding
died before the age of 33died before the age of 33
●
The focal point of early camp meetingsThe focal point of early camp meetings
was receiving communionwas receiving communion
●
Peter Cartwright, long-time circuit rider inPeter Cartwright, long-time circuit rider in
Illinois, was defeated in a congressionalIllinois, was defeated in a congressional
race by the lanky Abraham Lincolnrace by the lanky Abraham Lincoln

4. Awakenings in the WestAwakenings in the West
●
Revival at CaneRevival at Cane
RidgeRidge
●
Piercing ScreamsPiercing Screams
and Heavenlyand Heavenly
SmilesSmiles
●
James McGreadyJames McGready
●
Peter CartwrightPeter Cartwright

5. Revival at Cane RidgeRevival at Cane Ridge
●
By the year 1800 nearly 1 million people had movedBy the year 1800 nearly 1 million people had moved
WestWest
(Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee)(Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee)
●
Religion seemed to be fading in the rough wildernessReligion seemed to be fading in the rough wilderness
●
McGready, a fearless preacher, reminded his peopleMcGready, a fearless preacher, reminded his people
that they had not left the eternal God behind themthat they had not left the eternal God behind them
●
McGready planned a camp meeting at Cane Ridge afterMcGready planned a camp meeting at Cane Ridge after
some success with his pioneerssome success with his pioneers
●
Over 25,000 people attendedOver 25,000 people attended
●
The people were divided into congregations and greatThe people were divided into congregations and great
revival took placerevival took place

9. ●
●
A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN, TO HIS FRIENDA LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN, TO HIS FRIEND
IN BALTIMORE, BOURBON-COUNTY, AUGUST 7,IN BALTIMORE, BOURBON-COUNTY, AUGUST 7,
1801.1801. My dear friend,"I am on my way to one of theMy dear friend,"I am on my way to one of the
greatest meetings of the kind perhaps ever known; it isgreatest meetings of the kind perhaps ever known; it is
on a sacramental occasion. Religion has got to such aon a sacramental occasion. Religion has got to such a
height here, that people attend from a great distance;height here, that people attend from a great distance;
on this occasion I doubt not but there will be 10,000on this occasion I doubt not but there will be 10,000
people, and perhaps 500 wagons. The people encamppeople, and perhaps 500 wagons. The people encamp
on the ground, and continue praising God, day andon the ground, and continue praising God, day and
night, for one whole week before they break up."night, for one whole week before they break up."

10. ●
"The noise was like the roar of Niagara. The vast "The noise was like the roar of Niagara. The vast
sea of human beings seemed to be agitated as if sea of human beings seemed to be agitated as if
by a storm. I counted seven ministers, all by a storm. I counted seven ministers, all
preaching at one time, some on stumps, others preaching at one time, some on stumps, others
in wagons and one standing on a tree which in wagons and one standing on a tree which
had, in falling, lodged against another. ... The had, in falling, lodged against another. ... The
scene that presented itself to my mind was scene that presented itself to my mind was
indescribable. At one time I saw at least indescribable. At one time I saw at least fivefive
hundredhundred swept down in a moment as if a battery swept down in a moment as if a battery
of a thousand guns had been opened upon of a thousand guns had been opened upon
them, and then immediately followed shrieks them, and then immediately followed shrieks
and shouts that rent the very heavens." - and shouts that rent the very heavens." - JamesJames
Finley, later a Methodist circuit riderFinley, later a Methodist circuit rider

11. Piercing Screams and Heavenly SmilesPiercing Screams and Heavenly Smiles
●
FallingFalling
●
The JerksThe Jerks
●
DancingDancing
●
BarkingBarking
●
LaughingLaughing
●
RunningRunning
●
SingingSinging

12. James McGreadyJames McGready
●
Presbyterian MinisterPresbyterian Minister
●
Pastored three churches Pastored three churches
●
This area was full of “Murderers, horse-thieves, This area was full of “Murderers, horse-thieves,
highway robbers, and counterfeiters.”highway robbers, and counterfeiters.”
●
His fearless preaching gained him many His fearless preaching gained him many
converts.converts.

13. Peter CartwrightPeter Cartwright
●
One of the greatest frontier preachers andOne of the greatest frontier preachers and
circuit riderscircuit riders
●
Grew up on the western frontierGrew up on the western frontier
●
Baptized almost 10,000 convertsBaptized almost 10,000 converts
●
Preached almost 15,000 sermonsPreached almost 15,000 sermons
●
Left Kentucky and Tennessee because of hisLeft Kentucky and Tennessee because of his
distaste for slavery and went to Illinoisdistaste for slavery and went to Illinois
●
Elected for legislature and ran for congressElected for legislature and ran for congress
only to lose to Abraham Lincolnonly to lose to Abraham Lincoln

14. Peter CartwrightPeter Cartwright

15. Awakenings in the EastAwakenings in the East
●
Gloom, Doom,Gloom, Doom,
and Deismand Deism
●
Timothy DwightTimothy Dwight
and Yaleand Yale
●
CharlesCharles
GrandisonGrandison
FinneyFinney

16. Gloom, Doom, and DeismGloom, Doom, and Deism
●
Romance of the West depletedRomance of the West depleted
populations in the Eastpopulations in the East
●
Deism- God is not involved and humanDeism- God is not involved and human
reason is the ultimate authorityreason is the ultimate authority
●
Thomas Jefferson, a strong Deist, viewedThomas Jefferson, a strong Deist, viewed
religion as simply a moral codereligion as simply a moral code
●
Thomas Paine andThomas Paine and The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

17. Timothy Dwight and YaleTimothy Dwight and Yale
●
Grandfather was Jonathan EdwardsGrandfather was Jonathan Edwards
●
Chaplin in the RevolutionChaplin in the Revolution
●
Before Dwight, Yale had very little use forBefore Dwight, Yale had very little use for
the Christian faith.the Christian faith.
●
As a new president, Dwight drew veryAs a new president, Dwight drew very
strict battle lines, Christianity or infidelity.strict battle lines, Christianity or infidelity.

18. Revival at YaleRevival at Yale
●
Dwight earned admiration for his concern overDwight earned admiration for his concern over
the students’ soulsthe students’ souls
●
Two students were converted an made publicTwo students were converted an made public
professions of faithprofessions of faith
●
10 days before vacation 50 men declared10 days before vacation 50 men declared
themselves eager for Christianitythemselves eager for Christianity
●
Over time Dwight witnessed the conversions ofOver time Dwight witnessed the conversions of
80 of the 160 students at Yale80 of the 160 students at Yale
●
The new atmosphere at the college was one ofThe new atmosphere at the college was one of
concern for spiritual mattersconcern for spiritual matters

20. Charles Grandison FinneyCharles Grandison Finney
●
Described as tall and handsome withDescribed as tall and handsome with
hypnotic blue eyes and a majestic voice.hypnotic blue eyes and a majestic voice.
●
In a day of formal preaching, FinneyIn a day of formal preaching, Finney
offended some with his direct, personaloffended some with his direct, personal
style.style.
●
Finney used the reasoning he learned asFinney used the reasoning he learned as
a courtroom lawyer to convince people ofa courtroom lawyer to convince people of
their need for Christ.their need for Christ.

21. Finney’s MinistryFinney’s Ministry
●
Traveled New YorkTraveled New York
seeing hundreds ofseeing hundreds of
converts in each town.converts in each town.
●
New techniques and beliefs wereNew techniques and beliefs were
criticized-criticized-

Praying for persons by namePraying for persons by name

Allowing women to pray and testifyAllowing women to pray and testify

Encouraging people to come forwardEncouraging people to come forward

Revival is simply human choiceRevival is simply human choice

Man-centered religionMan-centered religion

22. ●
Although Finney’s preaching is said toAlthough Finney’s preaching is said to
have converted many, his personal beliefshave converted many, his personal beliefs
may have done just the opposite.may have done just the opposite.

Denied original sin (Psalm 51:5)Denied original sin (Psalm 51:5)

Claimed man was his own saviorClaimed man was his own savior

Described Jesus as a moral example of whatDescribed Jesus as a moral example of what
we should do if we really love God (Matthewwe should do if we really love God (Matthew
20:28).20:28).

Believed in a works based salvationBelieved in a works based salvation
(II Timothy 3:16).(II Timothy 3:16).

23. In the Wake of the Second GreatIn the Wake of the Second Great
AwakeningAwakening
●
Finney’sFinney’s Benevolent EmpireBenevolent Empire
●
Social ReformSocial Reform
●
Antislavery agitationAntislavery agitation