APUSH: Period 4, 1800-1848 - The Second Great Awakening and Reform Movements

Why This Matters

The Second Great Awakening and Reform Movements are significant for understanding the larger period of American history, particularly the antebellum era. This period saw a surge in social and moral reform, which was driven by the Second Great Awakening, a Protestant revival that emphasized individual conversion and social activism. The reform movements that emerged from this period, such as abolitionism, women's rights, and temperance, challenged traditional social norms and institutions, ultimately contributing to the Civil War and the Reconstruction era. This topic is connected to the AP theme of American Identity, as it highlights the tensions between individualism and social responsibility, and the ongoing struggle for American society to balance its ideals of liberty and equality.

Key Events & People

• Charles Finney (1792-1875): A leading figure in the Second Great Awakening, Finney emphasized the importance of personal conversion and social activism. He helped to establish the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, a pioneering institution for women's education.
• The Camp Meeting (1790s-1840s): A key feature of the Second Great Awakening, camp meetings were large gatherings of people who came together to hear sermons, sing hymns, and experience spiritual conversion.
• William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879): A leading abolitionist, Garrison founded The Liberator, a newspaper that advocated for the immediate emancipation of slaves.
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902): A pioneering women's rights activist, Stanton helped to organize the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women's rights convention in the United States.
• The American Temperance Society (1826): Founded by Lyman Beecher, this organization aimed to reduce the consumption of alcohol and promote temperance.
• The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue (1858): A group of abolitionists, including John Brown, attempted to rescue a group of fugitive slaves from a slave catcher in Ohio.
• The Women's Rights Convention (1848): Held in Seneca Falls, New York, this convention marked the beginning of the women's rights movement in the United States.
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): This law allowed new states to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, leading to pro-slavery and anti-slavery violence in the Kansas territory.
• Harriet Tubman (1822-1913): An escaped slave and abolitionist, Tubman helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
• The Fugitive Slave Act (1850): This law required Northerners to assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves, leading to widespread outrage and resistance.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: The Second Great Awakening emphasized the importance of personal conversion and social activism.
• Effect: This led to the emergence of various reform movements, including abolitionism, women's rights, and temperance.

• Long-term consequence: These reform movements contributed to the Civil War and the Reconstruction era, ultimately shaping American society and politics.

• Cause: The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed new states to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.

• Effect: This led to pro-slavery and anti-slavery violence in the Kansas territory.

• Long-term consequence: The violence in Kansas contributed to the escalation of tensions leading to the Civil War.

• Cause: The Fugitive Slave Act required Northerners to assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves.

• Effect: This led to widespread outrage and resistance in the North.
• Long-term consequence: The Fugitive Slave Act contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the Civil War.

Essential Vocabulary

• *Revivalism*: A movement that emphasizes the importance of spiritual renewal and conversion.
• *Abolitionism*: The movement to end slavery in the United States.
• *Temperance*: The movement to reduce the consumption of alcohol.
• *Underground Railroad*: A network of secret routes and safe houses used by escaped slaves to reach freedom in the North.
• *Seneca Falls Convention*: The first women's rights convention in the United States.
• *Kansas-Nebraska Act*: A law that allowed new states to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.
• *Fugitive Slave Act*: A law that required Northerners to assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves.
• *Oberlin Collegiate Institute*: A pioneering institution for women's education.
• *Charles Finney*: A leading figure in the Second Great Awakening.
• *William Lloyd Garrison*: A leading abolitionist.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: The Second Great Awakening began in the 1790s and ended in the 1840s.
• Correction: The Second Great Awakening began in the 1790s and continued into the 1840s, but its peak was in the 1820s and 1830s.
• What students often get wrong: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1850.
• Correction: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1854.
• What students often get wrong: Harriet Tubman was a leading figure in the women's rights movement.
• Correction: Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave and abolitionist who helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the role of the Second Great Awakening in shaping the reform movements of the antebellum era. Be sure to include specific examples from the period, such as the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue and the Women's Rights Convention.
• Possible document-based question: Evaluate the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act on the tensions between the North and South. Be sure to include specific evidence from the period, such as the speeches of William Lloyd Garrison and the writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe.
• Possible essay prompt: Compare and contrast the abolitionist movement with the women's rights movement. Be sure to include specific examples from the period, such as the work of William Lloyd Garrison and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Quick Self?Check

1. What was the main goal of the American Temperance Society? Answer: To reduce the consumption of alcohol and promote temperance.
2. Who was a leading figure in the Second Great Awakening? Answer: Charles Finney.
3. What was the significance of the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue? Answer: It was an attempt by abolitionists to rescue a group of fugitive slaves from a slave catcher in Ohio.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The Second Great Awakening began in the 1790s and continued into the 1840s.
• The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue was an attempt to rescue a group of fugitive slaves from a slave catcher in Ohio.
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1854.
• The Fugitive Slave Act required Northerners to assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves.
• Harriet Tubman helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
• The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention in the United States.
• The American Temperance Society aimed to reduce the consumption of alcohol and promote temperance.
• Charles Finney was a leading figure in the Second Great Awakening.
• William Lloyd Garrison was a leading abolitionist.
• The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by escaped slaves to reach freedom in the North.