Second Great Awakening And Egalitarianism
The Second Great Awakening was a spiritual resurgence that saw early Americans dedicate themselves not only to Christian ideals but also to freeing the slaves. The northern wing of the Second Great Awakening led to social reform (387). It was characterized by large camp meetings where the ideals of egalitarianism, a belief in human equality, were exposed to the masses of people who attended. These meetings were highly attended and promoted a sense of community and social discipline (383). One of these areas of egalitarianism gave rise to the abolition movement (Religious Transformation). The first organized protest was the Germantown Protest in 1688 was organized by the Quakers who considered slavery un-Christian. The movement to abolish
slavery continued to grow and on March 1, 1780, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed a laws calling for the gradual emancipation of slavery, the first of its kind in the Unites States (First Protest). There were many anti-slavery organizers throughout the north, many of whom were religious leaders. One in particular was Theodore Weld who came from a long line of New England ministers. Weld did not believe in the colonization movement which felt that blacks should be sent back to Africa. He believed that blacks were not being accepted as “brothers-in Christ” and this led to his involvement with the abolitionist movement (399). Weld traveled to Ohio where he gathered college students at Lane Theological Seminary into the abolitionist movement through a series of debates over an eighteen day period. The Lane students allied themselves with the cause of Negro freedom and education in Cincinnati Henry (Stuart). They were called the “Lane rebels” and they became protestors and moral crusaders (From Pulpit).
Although some of the anti-slavery organizers were somewhat successful in the North, many of them met with opposition and violence. Racism and fear that emancipated blacks would cause economic and social problems fueled the violence toward abolitionists. The South, fearful of the abolitionist movement, turned inward and cut itself off from the outside world. The mail was checked for abolitionist literature, northern books were not allowed and eventually this hysteria spread to Congress. In 1836, the House of Representative refused to discuss any further petitions against slavery. This refusal was called the “gag rule”. Former president John Quincy Adams, now a member of the House, finally managed to have the “gag rule” repealed in 1844 by convincing House members that limiting free speech endangered the Union.
The abolitionist movement definitely had an impact on the United States. Religious and secular leaders played a part in bringing slavery to the forefront. The idea that all humans should be equal led not only to freedom for slaves but also to the beginnings of the women’s rights movement.
slavery continued to grow and on March 1, 1780, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed a laws calling for the gradual emancipation of slavery, the first of its kind in the Unites States (First Protest). There were many anti-slavery organizers throughout the north, many of whom were religious leaders. One in particular was Theodore Weld who came from a long line of New England ministers. Weld did not believe in the colonization movement which felt that blacks should be sent back to Africa. He believed that blacks were not being accepted as “brothers-in Christ” and this led to his involvement with the abolitionist movement (399). Weld traveled to Ohio where he gathered college students at Lane Theological Seminary into the abolitionist movement through a series of debates over an eighteen day period. The Lane students allied themselves with the cause of Negro freedom and education in Cincinnati Henry (Stuart). They were called the “Lane rebels” and they became protestors and moral crusaders (From Pulpit).
Although some of the anti-slavery organizers were somewhat successful in the North, many of them met with opposition and violence. Racism and fear that emancipated blacks would cause economic and social problems fueled the violence toward abolitionists. The South, fearful of the abolitionist movement, turned inward and cut itself off from the outside world. The mail was checked for abolitionist literature, northern books were not allowed and eventually this hysteria spread to Congress. In 1836, the House of Representative refused to discuss any further petitions against slavery. This refusal was called the “gag rule”. Former president John Quincy Adams, now a member of the House, finally managed to have the “gag rule” repealed in 1844 by convincing House members that limiting free speech endangered the Union.
The abolitionist movement definitely had an impact on the United States. Religious and secular leaders played a part in bringing slavery to the forefront. The idea that all humans should be equal led not only to freedom for slaves but also to the beginnings of the women’s rights movement.