From: Tom Lynch
Date: 3/29/00
Time: 8:22:52 PM
Remote Name: 207.103.134.213
Religion in Early 19th Century America Religion played a very important role in shaping American culture during the first part of the 19th century. The Second Great Awakening began on the southern frontier around 1801 and was characterized by highly emotional revival meetings. These meetings allowed isolated farmers to gather and fostered a sense of community and discipline amongst them. Religion became the focus of community life in rural areas and helped bring the diverse southern frontiersmen together. In the North revivalism caught on later than it did in the South and it spurred on the desire for reform in a variety of ways. Northern revivalists believed that they could bring about great changes in society through reform and looked to improving the moral and cultural future of America. Numerous missionary and reform minded societies were founded at this time and they championed the causes of abolition and temperance. Religion gave an identity and sense of purpose to the newly emerging middle class in America. They saw themselves as the leaders of American society and felt obligated to improve it. The evangelical culture of the 1820's and 30's led to a variety of reforms which helped to change or encourage to change the views and practices of the people of the United States. Changes in family life became evident during this period. Most notably were the concepts of marriage for love and childhood. Though we now take these two things for granted, these were very new concepts at the turn of the century. Beliefs about education also changed at this time. The idea that education should be for everyone led to the development of a public school system. Reforms in the operations of prisons, poor houses, and insane asylums were also a result of the desire to improve society. All of these reforms can be traced back to the evangelical revivals of the beginning of the century which helps to illustrate that religious revival was the fuel which ran the engine of reform.