In what ways did the Second Great Awakening in the  North influence temperance and abolitionism?

[1]The Second Great Awakening was a very moving revolution within nineteenth century American culture and philosophy. During this period, Americans began to truly question and explore new ideas of a devout lifestyle. Traditional customs were generally rebelled against, with many citizens challenging common beliefs that remained throughout the immigration from Europe. Religious beliefs during the Second Great Awakening greatly relied on reflecting what one believes to be morally correct. Expression within such environments mimicked societal ideals of increasing civil rights, and sought purity by avoiding misbehavior from intoxication. As a result, movements such as those against alcohol consumption and slave ownership became a controversial part of the search for utopia. The Northern region of the United States brewed these concepts to higher levels than in the South. This was partially due to the elite universities within New England, specifically Harvard which served as the birthplace of transcendentalism, a leading force for American enlightenment led by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The spread of the Second Great Awakening also was affected by the economic differences between the North and the South. Americans in the North embraced ideas of a social revolution during the Second Great Awakening to better their lives by becoming more sophisticated, family-oriented citizens who could interact peacefully in a nation of individualism.

[2]Religions gained great momentum during the Second Great Awakening. Unitarians, Methodists, Deists, Baptists; it did not matter which group you fell under, opinions were rapidly becoming more prominent in attempt to shape political governing of states. The market revolution invoked great emotions of greed and corruption that easily could be scrutinized for the lack of morality that was present. While the initial basis of religious reformation was certainly personal salvation, the greater idea of setting standards of life for the masses of society and the United States dominated the motives of many great leaders from the time. Lyman Beecher, Peter Cartwright, and Charles Finney all served as strong spokesmen for their religions and preached their message to attempt to convert the many immigrants that were attracted to the thrill of America’s new industrial industry. Faith-based organizations felt that their beliefs should be the framework for American society. At this point, laws and regulations were still fairly unset and many wished to impose their opinions upon writing the details of the United States government. New extremes in restrictions and ideals were expressed to constantly outdo another group at being the most innocent, perfect civilian. This fueled desire to build new movements, especially about abolitionism and tolerance.

[3]The temperance movement truly began to blossom due to striving for a perfected state of morality during the Second Great Awakening. Many felt that alcohol demented the mindset of consumers to a degree that prevented them from being civilized members of society. With mental “corruption” from the “demon rum,” as it commonly was referred, people forgot their duties to the community and their families. Since people were not able to appropriately present themselves, liquor was viewed to be the cause for many evils in society. Temperance groups, such as the Daughters of Temperance, formed by the thousands under the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance. In 1851, Maine became the first state to prohibit the consumption and sale of alcohol statewide. Neal Dow was known as the “Father of Prohibition” and is responsible for sponsoring this legislation. The new ideals being developed in America further created conflict with immigrants from Ireland and Germany. In European countries such as those, the view of liquor was much more liberal and immigrants were not always in favor of the temperance standpoint. The overall popularity among the lower class, such as laborers and new immigrants, lead the more elite members of society to attack and try to eliminate the more disliked groups. In the South, vineyards also were an important industry for citizens, so it was more illogical for them to want to destroy part of their economical market. Temperance movements were fueled by the desire of serving a God and reaching perfection; alcohol was seen to be a distraction from the goal.

[4]Along with temperance, abolition movements were also greatly fueled by religious motives. The expanding religions that became more expressive and influential during the Second Great Awakening began to condemn the idea of slavery. With Christianity especially, the Second Great Awakening had its biggest strive toward abolition as citizens wanted the perfect Christian republic. It was theorized that God would favor the United States if the country was based upon his values and avoided sin. However, slavery became a very moral debate as the mistreatment and neglect of slaves made their owners “evil.” People felt that with these kinds of citizens composing America, America would not be graced by God’s blessing. Over 250,000 members joined William Lloyd Garrison’s American Anti-Slavery Society in favor of the universal and immediate abolition of slavery. Many abolition leaders felt that in order to overcome the troubles of slavery, the key to success was moral inducement and disobedience. John Brown led his movements with violence in order to show rebellion against slave ownership. He felt that if some citizens, primarily Southerners, were in favor of slavery, then he was sent from God to destroy them. Others decided that evangelizing slaves was the way to convert the ideals and values of their owners. African Americans also began to have their impact on expressing the need for spreading abolition. Frederick Douglass published his memoir which explores the struggles of growing up and living in slavery. The Second Great Awakening provided many moral conflicts through the increase of religion which questioned traditional social norms.

[5]The Second Great Awakening opened the eyes of Northern Americans to many different ideas. The market revolution and immigration created very populated areas that were filled with ideas that meshed together. As the ideas competed for superiority, religions thoroughly fueled the basis of how Americans should approach living life. The government was still fairly unregulated, and was open to being influenced and formed through movements at the time. In order to approach being a “free” country where equality and human decency could prevail, many great activists and leaders felt that temperance and abolition were key issues to address. Temperance and slavery were viewed to have evil qualities that would guide the United States down the same path of struggles and malevolence they tried to escape in Europe. Searching for excellence and exploring new approaches to embracing priorities in life were fueled during the period in order to shape the American Dream and build innocence in a setting that would allow everyone to succeed. These movements were designed to eliminate any setbacks such as discrimination or addictions that distracted from friendship and love. The Second Great Awakening awakened Americans to their new freedom to challenge tradition and form a newly structured nation that could excel together as a whole.