Final answer:
The involvement of evangelicalism in political and social reform heralded significant influence on American societal norms and governmental policies. While some regard the evangelical movement's push towards social reform and its political engagement positively, others raise concerns about the implications for church-state separation and the advocacy of conservative policies over liberal ones. The movement also expanded public roles for women and struggled with contradictions in political candidate support.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether the involvement of evangelicalism in political and social reform was positive is a complex question, as its impact was multifaceted and can be viewed from various perspectives. Influenced by the Second Great Awakening, many evangelicals sought to reform society by forming utopian communities and advocating for social issues through social gospel movements and other charitable activities. By emphasizing the resurrection of Christ and the importance of proselytizing, evangelical sects gained popularity and used their influence to address moral decline by participating in reformations such as antislavery, temperance, and women's rights movements.
As time went on, the involvement of evangelicalism in politics grew, with leaders like Jerry Falwell and organizations like the Moral Majority directly influencing elections and advocating for conservative social issues and policies. This form of political engagement raised concerns about the separation of church and state, as religious entities are exempt from taxes. Nevertheless, evangelical leaders played a role in supporting candidates like Ronald Reagan and fostering conservative views against government programs and in favor of traditional moral values.
The evangelical movement had a significant impact on gender roles as well, encouraging middle-class women to assume public roles in promoting moral virtues through activism, despite their exclusion from formal politics. The irony that Evangelicals supported a non-churchgoing candidate like Reagan over Carter, a born-again Christian, underscores the complexity of religious influences on political choices, particularly when policies align with a constituency's broader social and economic concerns.