The discussions and preaching during the reforms addressed issues concerning political implications. There were revivalists and perfectionists who hoped to enhance society by addressing greed, poverty, and oppression. The evangelists openly discussed issues that established a platform for continued reforms.
The influence of the second awakening impacted secular movements to fight for people’s rights. Christians started the antebellum reform, which addressed the need for behavior changes in women’s rights, the fight against alcohol consumption, slavery abolition, and other issues that society was facing. Christians were advised to improve their social and political participation, which emphasized the importance of moral and religious issues in daily life.
Protestantism’s role in politics increased as temperance activists, abolition advocates, and proponents of different reforms worked together to ensure they had a real effect in getting their concerns implemented in national politics. Transcendentalism philosophy understood that Christianity was meant to ensure better human relationships and existence. They accepted that Christianity had a great impact on people’s daily lives.
Transcendentalists encouraged individualism as well as self-reliance. They championed progressive stands concerning women’s rights, slave abolition, and education. They criticized poor governmental policies and actions, social institutions, and laws that encouraged the oppression of the minority. They believed and preached that creativity and action were better than theory and contemplation.
The second great awakening inspired enslaved people to seek their freedom and encouraged enslavers to guarantee freedom for their captives. The second awakening laid a platform for passionate religious revivals that educated and prepared people to understand and demand their rights. The status of women in society was elevated by calling for all to be treated with equality. The poor were empowered with teaching and demanded policies for equal treatment.
Slavery was one of the main issues during the antebellum era. The second awakening reforms inspired enslaved people in their quest to demand freedom. Further, reforms led to the formation of a scheme for slave rebellion designed by Gabriel Prosser, which was discovered and thwarted before it started. By engaging people in gatherings, it was easy to organize meetings to discuss changes that were needed to ensure the poor, slaves and minorities could improve their living standards.