Final answer:
The Second Great Awakening, which spanned from the 1820s to the 1840s, is the period of religious revival often credited with inspiring the Abolitionist movement, emphasizing individual salvation and societal perfection. It played a crucial role in various social reform movements, particularly in the North, where it propelled efforts to end slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Period of Religious Revivalism and its Influence on Abolitionism
The widespread religious revivalism that occurred from the 1820s to the 1840s is known as the Second Great Awakening. This movement, rooted in evangelical Christianity, stressed that salvation was accessible to all through free will. Preachers of this era promoted the idea that individuals must actively seek their own salvation and can bring about societal perfection through personal conversion. The inclusive nature of the Second Great Awakening meant that its message reached across social boundaries to all classes and races, promoting regular church attendance. It is credited with inspiring reform movements, including the Abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery and was characterized by some white Americans, including men and women, as a radical, irrational, and dangerous challenge to societal norms.