The second great awakening allowed women to become increasingly prominent in the churches. Women began founding new sects, and charitable foundations (Society of Promoting Christian Knowledge, Relief of Poor Widows). Because women were excluded politically, they evolved in the churches. Some churches consisted of over 70 percent women. This new religious activism created a reliance on women in churches, and preached of female virtue which led to greater moral and self discipline among women.
Many men contested to this new authority women were claiming spiritually. Some Baptist churches began to deny women the right to vote on church dealings, and others claimed that women should have no say in the churches and that their place was taking care of the home.
Women reacted by founding associations that encouraged raising Christian children and publishing popularly read newsletters among women. Emma Willard opened the Middlebury Female Seminary, where girls were able to receive an education. This new development led to women teaching in the schools. Although they accepted a much lower pay than men, this was a huge step for American women and exhibited the gradual rise to power for women.
4 comments:
The Second Great Awakening was a major turning point for women. I think that women's rights greatly increased through education and religion the most. Women were now allowed to be prominent members in many different churches as well as go to school and further their education.
This time period was a great movement for women. They were able to start having educations. With this education women became greatly more independent and supported abolitionism.
The Second Great Awakening was an extremely important time in history for women. Women's rights increased and were actually allowed to take part in many new things. Women were allowed to start having educations as well as being involved in the church.
The turning point for religion that occured during the Second Great Awakening was vital for women's rights. It gave them many more opportunities and independence as they were finally allowed to participate more in church and in getting an education.
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