the american pageant: chapter 15. religion under the founding fathers before the reform and revival,...
TRANSCRIPT
The American Pageant: Chapter 15
Religion under the Founding FathersBefore the reform and revival, 3/4ths of
Americans attended church in 1850. During the Revolution, Thomas Paine’s “The
Age of Reason” shot down churches by saying they were trying to enslave and terrorize and monopolize power.
Founding Fathers were deists or people that believed God created a mechanical world. The world was running itself without God’s
intervention. Deists also believed that God gave humans the
capacity to have moral behavior.
UnitariansBelieved in God as one person rather than
the Trinity Stressed the goodness of people’s behavior
versus the vileness. Free will and salvation by good works. God was a loving Father, not a stern Creator. Against predestination and Calvinism
RevivalismStarted in the south spread to the northeast eventually
Second Great Awakening – a wave of spiritual fervor church reorganization
passionate evangelicalism new sects prison reform, temperance cause, women’s movement,
abolitionism
Huge camp meetings spread the Awakening to the masses several days where gospel was served up by a preacher dancing, barkingmany saved went back to sinful ways later boosted church membership Some even were moved to do missionary work
Methodist Revival 1839
Methodists and BaptistsPersonal conversion (versus predestination)
democratic control of church affairs emotionalism Peter Cartwright
Travelling frontier preacher – Methodist Called upon sinners to repent Converted thousands would physically beat up people that tried to crash
his meetings Charles Grandison Finney
Was a lawyer, left bar to become evangelist Rochester and NYC encouraged women to pray aloud Against alcohol and slavery
Cartwright and Finney
Millerites (Adventists)Commanded by William Miller Interpreted the Bible as saying Christ would
return to earth on October 22, 1844 Gathered in prayerful assemblies to greet
Christ Jesus failing to appear caused some to lose
heart but it didn’t destroy the movement.
MormonismJoseph Smithadvocated cooperation versus individualism
and free enterprise which the high ranking Americans did not like.
Made people angry by voting as a unit and drilling militia for defensive purposed.
Mormon Moses – Brigham Young led the Mormons into Utah while singing “Come, Come Ye Saints”
PolygamyStatehood in Utah in 1896
Women and the Church
Middle class women and daughters and wives of businessmen were the first to jump into the revivalism
Majority of new church members Most likely to stick with their faith Women were apprehensive of the changes and
more likely to be converted Women were given role of bringing family and
husband back to God
Revivalism and divisionConservative denominations in the East were
not affected much. The wealthy educated took on
Presbyterianism, Episcopalism, Congregationalism, and Unitarianism
The less fortunate took on Methodism and Baptists. (rural south and west)
Slavery divided religions into regions
EducationAvailable for all whites
Women rarely achieved higher educationHorace Mann – reforms for educationUniversities –
established to show local pridemany based on teaching religion
Noah Webster Improved textbooks Reading lessons were used to promote patriotism as
well as teach reading Published Webster’s dictionary in 1828.
William H. McGuffey Published grade school readers these readers promoted morality, patriotism, and
idealism