7+ Burned Over District APUSH Definition: Explained!

burned over district apush definition

7+ Burned Over District APUSH Definition: Explained!

The term designates a region in upstate New York, specifically along the Erie Canal corridor, during the early to mid-19th century. It gained this moniker due to the intense religious revivals and reform movements that swept through the area. These movements, primarily of Protestant origin, experienced fervent enthusiasm and high attendance, leaving a lasting impact on the social and cultural landscape.

The significance of this area lies in its role as a hotbed for social and religious innovation. The Second Great Awakening, with its emphasis on personal conversion and social reform, found fertile ground there. This fostered the rise of new religious denominations, utopian communities, and reform movements focused on temperance, abolition, and women’s rights. The areas economic transformation, brought about by the Erie Canal, contributed to social disruptions and a desire for moral order, thus fueling the revivals.

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