The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant revival movement during the early nineteenth century. The movement started around 1800, had begun to gain momentum by 1820, and was in decline by 1870.Revivals were a key part of the movement and attracted hundreds of converts to new Protestant denominations.The Methodist Church used circuit riders to reach people in frontier locations.The Second Great Awakening led to a period of antebellum social reform and an emphasis on salvation by institutions.