Final answer:
In 1821, Charles Grandison Finney experienced a significant religious conversion that led him to become a preacher, and he played a key role in the Second Great Awakening, advocating for individual salvation and social reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1821, Charles Grandison Finney had a life-changing religious conversion that led him to leave his law practice and embark on a new path. He chose to devote his life to spiritual matters and became a preacher. Finney rose to prominence as a central figure in the Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century.
His preaching greatly influenced the religious movement in the Northeast, notably in Rochester, New York, where he achieved his greatest success. Finney's sermons reflected the spirit of the age, stressing individual moral responsibility and salvation. He was also a fervent advocate for social reforms such as the abolition of slavery and the temperance movement.