History 115 - Perfection Era

Throughout the early part of the 18th century, many new ideas began to take place as the spread of colonists continued to span out both westward and southward (Davidson, et. al. 2006). Numerous amounts of colonists started settling along the countryside, far from the church meetings and congregations they were accustomed with (Davidson, et. al. 2006). As a result, this led to the settlers building new communities which led to the formation of several new churches along the Atlantic coast (Davidson, et. al. 2006). The Second Great Awakening had a significant increase in the membership numbers in the major protestant churches such as, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist (Davidson, et. al. 2006). Revivals led by American clergy were believed to be a prudent factor in reinforcing the American belief in democracy and equality for all (Davidson, et. al. 2006).

The first Great Awakening brought about democratic ideals, but the greatest ideal a person could retain was spiritual conversion. This ideal became known later as perfectionism. Perfectionism is the desire to create a perfect society in which every citizen is equal. However, this ideal was more of a dream. Although some thought differently, most of society viewed women and African Americans as second class citizens. In some churches, however, women and African Americans could speak, preach, and vote (on religious issues only). Women of this time had more of a subservient role to men and were presumed to carry themselves in a particular way. Women during this time found benevolent organizations that fostered close friendships, as a way of expressing moral authority within society (Davidson, et. al. 2006).

Women and African Americans may have gained some rights within the church, their rights outside the church were still quite limited (Davidson, et. al. 2006). Not far from this time, an effort was made to allow equal rights among women and African Americans. This became known as the abolitionist movement (Davidson, et. al. 2006). The abolitionist movement was based on moral principles, with their goal being to abolish slavery and provide equal rights to all citizens (Davidson, et. al. 2006). The Great Awakening and Perfectionist movement laid the ground work and helped people began to look at the impact of what they were doing, but it was the Second Great Awakening that actually brought forth social change were people started to act on the issues.

The Second Great Awakening was similar to the original Great Awakening. It was an effort by the different Christian sects to create a large-scale religious revival (Davidson, et. al. 2006). A major impact of the second Great Awakening was that it amplified membership in the major protestant churches, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist (Davidson, et. al. 2006). Women and African Americans probably played the most important role in this movement. Because of the first Great Awakening, they were