The newly formed USA was spinning headlong into a moral slump
under deist philosophy. Drunkenness was epidemic. Out of a population of 5
million people, 300,0000 were confirmed drunkards. 15,000 died of alcoholism
every year. Bank robberies were daily occurrences. Profanity was rampant, and
women were afraid to go out at night for fear of being assaulted. The churches
seemed unable to do anything about the moral decay. All major denominations
were losing members. Intellectuals from Voltaire to Thomas Payne predicted
Christianity would be forgotten in 30 years. Francis Asbury, a Methodist
preacher was first to usher in the Second Great Awakening, and the revival
broke out through the entire country.
