Final answer:
Methodism, founded by the Wesley brothers in the 18th century, grew from the Holy Club at Oxford and was characterized by a focus on a personal relationship with God and public service. It later became an integral part of the Second Great Awakening in the United States, emphasizing personal salvation and spiritual rebirth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The religious movement founded in the 18th century by John and Charles Wesley is known as Methodism. Attending Oxford University, the Wesley brothers started the Holy Club, a group that was methodical about their religious practices. This club ultimately bore the name Methodist, defining the denomination they established. The Wesleys believed deeply in public service and missionary work and traveled to the colonies in the 1730s. After returning from the colonies, they were influenced by Moravian passengers and the writings of Martin Luther, leading to their conversion and the focus on a personal, emotional relationship with God.
Methodism became part of the larger evangelical movement that spread through Europe and gained significant traction in the United States during the Second Great Awakening, where it stressed salvation through free will and personal religious experience. Both John and Charles Wesley's conversion and subsequent preaching were highly formative to the growth of Methodism and the broader evangelical movement, which saw the Methodist Church become one of the most successful denominations of that time.