The picture depicts a camp meeting during the Second Great Awakening. How might a woman attending the meeting feel?
A. Angry that she is only allowed to watch but not participate
B. Frustrated about having to keep her excitement to herself
C. Inspired to renew her religion and engage in social reform
D. Embarrassed that she is required to confess her sins in public
I think it is A
Found this,
"Women, who made up the majority of converts during the Awakening, played a crucial role in its development and focus. It is not clear why women converted in larger numbers than men. Various scholarly theories attribute the discrepancy to a reaction to the perceived sinfulness of youthful frivolity, an inherent greater sense of religiosity in women, a communal reaction to economic insecurity, or an assertion of the self in the face of patriarchal rule. Husbands, especially in the South, sometimes disapproved of their wives' conversion, forcing women to choose between submission to God or their spouses. Church membership and religious activity gave women peer support and place for meaningful activity outside the home, providing many women with communal identity and shared experiences. "
To determine how a woman attending the camp meeting during the Second Great Awakening might feel, let's analyze the options given.
Option A suggests that she would feel angry that she is only allowed to watch but not participate. While it is true that women faced certain restrictions and limitations during this time period, portraying anger as the only possible emotion might be too simplistic.
Option B suggests that she would feel frustrated about having to keep her excitement to herself. Although public displays of emotion were common during camp meetings, it is important to note that not all individuals express or experience emotions in the same way. Therefore, it might not be accurate to assume frustration as the predominant feeling for all women attending.
Option C suggests that she would feel inspired to renew her religion and engage in social reform. The Second Great Awakening was a period of religious revival and social reform, and women played important roles in both areas. Women often found a renewed sense of purpose and an opportunity to actively participate in religious and social activities during this time. Therefore, this option could be a reasonable answer.
Option D suggests that she would feel embarrassed that she is required to confess her sins in public. While confession of sins was a common practice during camp meetings, it is not necessarily tied solely to feelings of embarrassment. Some individuals might have experienced a deep sense of relief or liberation through confession, while others might have experienced other emotions altogether.
Given these options, option C (Inspired to renew her religion and engage in social reform) appears to be the most suitable answer as it captures the spirit of empowerment and active involvement that many women found during the Second Great Awakening. However, it is important to recognize that individual experiences and emotions may have varied greatly.