The Second Great Awakening, a religious revival that occurred in the United States during the late 18th and early 19th centuries had a profound impact, on American society. It involved revivals and passionate preaching leading to an expansion of denominations especially among groups like the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists in Kentucky and Tennessee. This movement focused on salvation. Sparked social reform initiatives, including the establishment of educational institutions, seminaries and missionary organizations. Additionally it gave rise to movements such as Adventism, Dispensationalism and the Latter Day Saint movement. The period of fervor also played a role in shaping institutions and promoting antebellum social reforms within the broader context of evangelical revivals that encompassed both the earlier First Great Awakening and anticipated the Third Great Awakening.

Similar to its predecessor, the First Great Awakening, the Second Great Awakening was heavily influenced by Romanticism with its emphasis on passion, emotion and supernatural experiences. It represented a shift away from skepticism, deism, Unitarianism and rationalism that were prevalent during the American Enlightenment era. This religious revival coincided with movements in Europe such as Pietism in regions and strong evangelical movements in England. It spread across denominations and geographical areas, in North America including Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and parts of Canada.

The revivals, during The Awakening regardless of their affiliations displayed similar characteristics that crossed geographical boundaries by holding revival gatherings. These meetings emerged as an evangelization method during that era. The Methodist Church specifically made use of its organized structure by deploying traveling preachers known as "circuit riders" to reach out to individuals in frontier regions. These circuit riders originating from backgrounds successfully connected with frontier families and contributed to a religious revival, throughout the American frontier.