The intellectual and religious movements of the antebellum era sprang to a great extent from what is called the Second Great Awakening (the First Great Awakening of evangelical Protestantism occurred during the 1730s and 1740s). These new ideas emphasized an emotional religious style that defended the rebirth of the sinner through repentance. It highlighted personal salvation as opposed to predestination (which minimized personal influence on salvation). This new idea was a clear embodiment of the values of individualism.
On the other hand, these movements also focused on the values of communal cooperation. The movement was greatly influenced by the social changes of the time, such as the rise of participatory democracy. The values of democracy contributed to the development of a more egalitarian society, and those that participated in the intellectual and religious movements of the time started believing in the possibility of a Kingdom of God that could be established on Earth. This kingdom would be based on individual rights, freedom, cooperation, equality and a Christian morality.
