Burned-over district

Common card · No. 240420

The "burned-over district" comprises Western and parts of Central New York State. In the early 19th century, religious revivals and the formation of new religious movements of the Second Great Awakening took place to such a great extent that spiritual fervor expanded like a forest fire. Charles Grandison Finney (1792–1875) popularized the term: his posthumous 1876 book Autobiography of Charles G. Finney referred to a "burnt district" to denote an area in central and western New York State during the Second Awakening: I found that region of country what, in the western phrase, would be called, a "burnt district." There had been, a few years previously, a wild excitement passing through that region, which they called a revival of religion, but which turned out to be spurious. ... It was reported as having been a very extravagant excitement; and resulted in a reaction so extensive and profound, as to leave the impression on many minds that religion was a mere delusion. A great many men seemed...

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