Religion's Role in America's Historical Development

Throughout the history of America, Religion has had a significant impact on its development. Even before the inception of America the desire to practice for religious freedom, was the initial driving force of colonial America. The term "Great Awakening" generally refers to a revival, particular in protestant communities, in religious interest. Several of the elements in an Awakening generally consist of a shift in tradition practices as well as the focus that essentially causes a new surge of interest amongst a religious community. While the first and second Great Awakening may greatly differ on which elements are particularly focused on such as tradition, the targeted group as well as overall tactics. While the general goals may differ amongst

both movements similar elements tend to undergo some sort of change. However, in order to properly understand the why the focus differs amongst the first and second awakening, it is important to take into their respective time periods in which these movements were formed. By understanding the context in which these movements were created explain their desires and conflicts of the time periods and how the conclusion was met.
The First Great Awakening was essentially a religious revival that took around the 1730s and 1940s. The cause is generally attributed to two things England's Reign and the influence of preachers. Prior to the Great Awakening, a majority of president religions would undergo a period of staleness around the early eighteenth century. The development of this uncommitted attitude would derive from the result of the Glorious Revolution of 1688. One of the results of the revolution was the creation of the Church of England which was essentially Protestant church under government control. During this reign, several of the outside religion such as Catholicism or Judaism would be suppressed among England as well the American Colonies. Due to the suppressive nature established by the English government, would result in religious practices becoming stale. (Great Awakening) Would describe the attitude as Spiritually dry among its members stating "Religion became something of a past time in which people would go through the motions." Because religion was basically regarded to as a past time a majority of people would begin to focus towards work, where the American work mentality develops from. Other ideas of the enlightenment would also influence with its more grounded ideas.A majority of people would remain complacent until influences from people such as George Whitfield and the Wesley brothers would revitalize religious practices with their emotional sermons.
The Great Awakening would be regarded as a highly influential period for religion in America. Preachers such as George Whitfield as well as the Wesley brothers would be able to reinvigorate the protestant community with an unorthodox method. These preachers would use an emotional style of preaching in order to garner an audience. Which immediately results in a division amongst the community known as New Lights and Old Lights. However, both groups having vastly different ideas on how religion should be practiced. The Old Lights had believed in ideas in the enlightenment, rationalism, would justify the focus of work as well as oppose the emotional sermons. Meanwhile, the New lights generally prefer the emotional sermons, would focus more towards the power of god and considered to be more radical than their counterpart. It may be reasonable the response regarding the new light may have due to an inner guilt amongst these people, which might explain why this group tends to have more of a focus on the power of a god as well as an overwhelming desire for salvation. However due to the fact that there is a split within the community effectively forces the Old Lights to become more active in order to combat the polarizing ideas of the New Lights.
The Great Awakening will have a significant impact on how religion is perceived in America.

Many will attribute the Great Awakening for essentially uniting the colonies, would also be responsible for the Revolutionary War. Prior to the Great Awakening, a majority of the colonies acted separately from each other. Because of the division, this would effectively prompt several the communities along the coast to communicate by establishing a common ground as well as an enemy. This would result in a split amongst the colonies and the Church of England. From this point onward religion would be reflective upon the individual rather than focusing on god. Ideas from the New and Old Lights will also have an impact on the development of America. Several ideas from the Old Lights will inspire several of the American legislatures. Law's such as the First Amendment will establish new ideas such as freedom of speech as well as freedom of religion. Meanwhile, idea's from the New Lights will effectively establish the tone. The idea's of the New Lights will supply this new sense of urgency for salvation. Elements from both divisions will be responsible for The Second Great

Awakening.
Due to the elements that were previously established during the first movements would cause a second movement to arise. The second movement initially began around the late eighteenth century and would peak around the mid-nineteenth century. The Gap between both movements would serve as a "cool off period' for American Religion (University Of Houston). Many of the Americans who migrated to the west early would grow up with little Religious training (University Of Houston). During this period the United states would be established under Fundamental ideas. The United States would abolish established religion under the First Amendment. With would, in turn, establish the rules that these religious communities had to work over. No longer could established communities could use the law to silence their opposition. By the end of the 18th century, many educated Americans no longer professed traditional Christian beliefs." (University Of Houston) With the decline of Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism will become influential during this period and be the driving motivation during the Second Great Awakening.
During the Second Great Awakening, a series of religious revival would have a massive impact on the religious landscape of the United States. Charles Finney considered being the leader of the second movement he would preach revivalist ideas daily. During his campaign, he would develop new techniques. Several of these tactics would be used throughout The Second Great Awakening in order to entice people to join. Due to the success of Finney's other denotations would further develop these tactics. During The Second Awakening Methodists and Baptist greatly thrived during this period, would become one of the fastest growing religions during this time period. A Majority of these conversions would take place in camp meetings. During these meetings, they would give of emotional preaches as well as involve the audience during their sermons (U.S.History). Evangelist ideas would quickly spread throughout America. Which prompted missionary groups to travel across the countries where their main targeted regions that practiced a different religion, these missionary groups would find more success amongst rural areas. These new ideas would greatly contradict those of the Calvinist, Evangelists would claim that the individual has free will an individual can "choose to be saved" (U.S.History). While the concern regarding salvation is still within the evangelist the focus would change from a reflection of oneself to concern over the un-churched.
The Second Great Awakening is a period of time on where several of American beliefs develop from. Due to the fact that America was a new nation signifies that there are no pre-established traditions. The general focus of religion, the urgency to save others as well as the overwhelming desire for salvation will be traditions that will be passed down. This religious movement will serve as a major split from Christianity in America and Europe. Other attitudes such as exceptionalism stemming from Massachusetts Puritans of "city upon a hill" will greatly be amplified amongst the American population. This notion would also be fuelled even further with the end of the Revolutionary war. During 1803 the United States would purchase a large amount of land from France which is referred to as the Louisiana purchase. Over time a majority of the land will have been established which would prompt their next goal to expand further into the west and spread the Christian message. "Many settlers believed that God himself blessed the growth of the American Nation" (U.S.History) The Overwhelming desire to migrate would be coined Manifest Destiny. Through a combination of several elements such as the Revolution, the sense of exceptionalism fueled by the emotionalism from evangelist would help establish this notion of optimism, where any goal is achievable, that America is well known for. Other desires such as the desire to Christianize Indians, to save them, would create this idea of protecting the weak that is prevalent in modern America. These sense optimism, as well as rebellious attitude, would help pave the way for several social activists to groups, such as women's rights and the opposition to slavery, to rise. The Second Great Awakening while was a religious reform which would essentially change the focus of several Christian religions it would also be responsible for establishing America's identity.
There are noticeable similarities amongst the first and second Awakening both that share common elements.

Both movements were essentially the emergence of evangelism throughout Christian communities. These movements were responsible for distancing America from European religious traditions. While the general religious focus is different during both movement the general concern revolves around the person rather than the god. The emotional aspect of evangelism is extremely prevalent across the two movements and would spark a resurgence in religious practices. The reason why several of these elements are consistent amongst both movement is due to the fact that the Second Awakening is essentially a continuation of where several of the concepts that were introduced during the First Awakening and further established

them.
While the first and second contain similar elements both movements there are several other elements within the movements that greatly differ such as religious focus, overall impact, used tactics as well as other details. The general focus of the person differs amongst the two movements. During the First Awakening, the concern was placed on the individual and the focus was more of a self-reflection. With the New lights was consumed by emotional guilt members of the Old lights would use rationality to justify their act. Meanwhile, the Second Awakening would be more concerned with the salvation of others. Other elements such as the division of religious faction would also differ. During the First movement members within the same denomination would compete, while during the Second movement outside denominations would compete amongst each other. Evangelist beliefs would be greatly amplified from the transition from first to the second movement. During the second movement, Fundamentalistic were not as prominent as they were during the First Awakening. Conversion tactics that were used by the evangelist would evolve greatly during the nineteenth century. The gravity of the impact amongst would also differ. The impact of the First Awakening serves a more unitary purpose despite the fact that it would divide several of the protestant church it is responsible for uniting the colonies. It is also responsible for establishing a guideline, based off of Fundamental and Evangelism ideas, that the American colonies will develop from. Meanwhile, the Second Awakening is attributed to establishing several of the traditions as well as the optimistic spirit that America is well known for.