How did the Second Great Awakening contribute to westward expansion?
for future reference the answer is - Americans believed they had a religious purpose to spread over the entire continent.
The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival movement that took place in the United States during the early 19th century. While it primarily aimed to bring about spiritual and moral renewal, it also had a significant impact on various aspects of society, including westward expansion. Here's how the Second Great Awakening contributed to westward expansion:
1. Religious Motivation: The Second Great Awakening emphasized the idea of personal salvation and individual responsibility for one's faith. This inspired many people to venture westward in an effort to spread their religious beliefs to new territories. Missionary societies were formed to send religious workers to the frontier regions, where they established churches, schools, and communities.
2. Social Reform: The revivalist spirit of the Second Great Awakening also fueled various social reform movements, such as abolitionism, temperance, and women's rights. As individuals and groups advocating for these causes migrated westward, they sought to promote their ideals and implement social change in the new territories they settled.
3. Community Building: The religious camp meetings and gatherings that were characteristic of the Second Great Awakening helped create strong sense of community and camaraderie among settlers in the frontier regions. This sense of community played a crucial role in the development of new towns and settlements as people came together to support and assist one another.
4. Education: The Second Great Awakening emphasized the importance of widespread education and literacy. As a result, religious groups and individuals established schools and colleges in newly settled areas. These institutions not only provided education but also served as centers for intellectual and cultural development, contributing to the overall growth and advancement of the frontier communities.
In summary, the Second Great Awakening influenced westward expansion by motivating people to migrate westward to spread their religious beliefs, promoting social reform movements, fostering community building, and establishing educational institutions.