History 2301E Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Millerism, Mother Focus, Golden Plates
2 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
October 19th, 2017
Revivalism and Reform in America
Religious movements
Fits into the Era of Good Feeling
The chaos and under valley that exists
Jefferson: a little rebellion is good every 20 years…
➢ The First Great Awakening, 1720s-1760s
➢ The Second Great Awakening, 1829s-1840s
➢ Millerites, 1843-1844
➢ Mormons
o Joseph Smith, 1820s-1844
o Brigham Young, 1847
➢ Utopian Communities
➢ Social issues
➢ Competing Women’s Movements
Types of Reform Movements
- Religion
- Societal
o Women’s issues
o Temperance issues
o Mental health issues
- Abolition
o The abolition of slavery
o A part of the wave of reformism
Religious Reform
- Societal context
o Rural nature
▪ A loneliness, alienation, disconnect
• Groups are away from urban centres
▪ Not the same numbers of church in comparison to cities like NYC or Philadelphia
o Modernization
▪ Outside of dominant religious structures
▪ Don’t know their place in this emerging modern America
▪ A sense of disconnect from industrialization and transportation revolutions
o Escapism
▪ Offers a community
• Like minded individuals, feeling lost and that they no longer connect
anymore to their wider society
▪ Can feel like they have answers, looking forward to dealing with that
- Existing denominations
o Seen as part of the problem
o Part of the power structure
▪ Not doing enough: in the eyes of these individuals
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
- Charismatic leaders
o Comes along in times of chaos and upheaval
o Has the answers to these very simple theological questions
The First Great Awakening, 1720s-1660s
- Secular backlash
o Puritans losing power
▪ Leads up to the revolutions
o American politics
▪ Are we British?
• A lot of uncertainty taking place
o Traditional religion isn’t dealing with their needs
- Religious fervor
- Traveling sermons
o Travelling preachers took religion into rural areas, the frontier parts
▪ lack of traditional religion presence
o A physical and emotional experience
▪ Salvation in times of chaos and upheaval
- Impact
o Democratization religion
▪ Choice
• Theology and preacher to follow
o Gives it to the people, outside of the establish churches
▪ Lessen control to religious leaders
o New religious groups (or sects)
▪ All of these breakaway religions outside of these dominant religions
The Second Great Awakening, 1820s-1840s
- Camp meetings
o After your harvest was done, would go to camp meetings for a week
▪ Would hear different preachers and sermons
- Frontier
o Audience
▪ Incredibly physical
• Fainting, touched by the holy spirit
• Not something you get in a traditional church
o A direct connection to religion and the meaning being progressed
The Millerites
- The beginning of an apocalyptic cult
- Location
o Particularly active in the route of the Erie Canal
- William Miller
o Founder and leader
o In reading the bible, had figured out the date of Christ’s arrival
- The second coming of Christ, April 1843
o Sense that their followers are the true believers
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Jefferson: a little rebellion is good every 20 years . Societal: women"s issues, temperance issues, mental health issues. Abolition: the abolition of slavery, a part of the wave of reformism. Existing denominations: seen as part of the problem, part of the power structure, not doing enough: in the eyes of these individuals. Charismatic leaders: comes along in times of chaos and upheaval, has the answers to these very simple theological questions. Secular backlash: puritans losing power, leads up to the revolutions, american politics, are we british, a lot of uncertainty taking place, traditional religion isn"t dealing with their needs. Traveling sermons: travelling preachers took religion into rural areas, the frontier parts lack of traditional religion presence, a physical and emotional experience, salvation in times of chaos and upheaval. Camp meetings: after your harvest was done, would go to camp meetings for a week, would hear different preachers and sermons.
