By the end of the 18th century, many educated Americans no longer professed traditional Christian beliefs. In reaction to the secularism of the age, a religious revival spread westward in the first half of the 19th century. Social activism inspired by the religious revival gave rise to abolition groups and the Society for the Promotion of Temperance, as well as to efforts to reform prisons and care for the handicapped and mentally ill. Many historians ask the question of why these new religious and civil rights movements took place. Many conclude that the Market Revolution caused much stress on the people and their new found beliefs gave them a sense of stability. Look at how 9-11 changed our beliefs. Churches became packed with people in search of stability among the national crisis.

In the late 1830’s and early 1840’s there was a growing gap between the rich and the poor. The rich seemed to be getting richer and the poor got poorer. More importantly was the rise of a middle class. As Touqeville put it, “The whole society seems to have turned into one middle class. Men seemed to often be off at work while the women were left at home to take care of household duti

Some topics in this essay:
Market Revolution, Methodists Baptists, America Appalachian, Awakening Awakening, Social Gospel, Social Reformation, Adams York, Unfortunately Douglass, Society AASS, Susan Anthony, religious revival, women's rights, western york, civil rights, camp meeting, civil rights movements, anti-slavery society, rights movements, home care, social activism, declaration independence,