Final answer:
New York was the center of revivalism during the Second Great Awakening, with Charles Grandison Finney being the most influential figure in this movement, especially after he became a minister in Rochester in 1830.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state that was the center of revivalism during the period known as the Second Great Awakening was New York. This movement was characterized by widespread revivals that sought to renew individual piety and religious devotion. The most notable individual associated with these efforts in the state of New York was Charles Grandison Finney. Finney, originally studying to be a lawyer, experienced a religious conversion in 1821 that redirected his life towards evangelism. He commenced revival meetings in New York and achieved his greatest success after becoming a minister in Rochester, New York, in 1830. The Erie Canal had converted Rochester into a bustling shipping hub, and in this booming environment, Finney's revivals became hugely popular and influential.
Finney's techniques were innovative; he meticulously planned his revivals as public spectacles that were not only meant to inspire religious reform but also to engage and entertain. He introduced the "anxious bench" for sinners to be prayed for and exhorted to seek forgiveness. His approach gave women the opportunity to speak out in mixed-sex gatherings, empowering them and validating their spiritual equality.
While Finney's efforts were centered in New York, other areas also experienced revivalism. In particular, the Presbyterian revival in the Middle Colonies (which included New York, as well as Pennsylvania and New Jersey) was important. Ministers like Theodorus Frelinghuysen and Gilbert Tennent played significant roles in spreading revivalism. The impact of these revivals extended into various spheres of society, contributing to movements for social reform such as abolition, temperance, and women's rights.