In antebellum America, a religious revival called the Second Great Awakening resulted in thousands of conversions to evangelical religions. Itinerant preachers, such as Charles Granison Finney, traveled from town to town, lecturing to crowds about eradicating sin in the name of perfectionism. Camp meetings, or large religious gatherings, also gave the devout opportunities to practice their religion and for potential conversions of non-believers. In addition to a religious movement, other reform movements such as temperance, abolition, and women's rights also grew in antebellum America. The temperance movement encouraged people to abstain from consuming alcoholic drinks in order to preserve family order. The abolition movement fought to abolish slavery in the United States. The women's rights movement grew from female abolitionists who realized that they too could fight for their own political rights. In addition to these causes, reforms touched nearly every aspect of daily life, such as restricting the use of tobacco and dietary and dress reforms.
Since 1923 a rock found with inscriptions have been studied. The symbols look just like Viking Runes that would sustain the theory that Vigings have been to America long before Columbus. The theory is however contested by experts, some of which thinks that itis a hoax. The rock is known as "the Heavener Runestone".
In response, the U.S. and its Western allies sought ways to prevent further expansion of Communist influence on the European continent. ... Events of the following year prompted American leaders to adopt a more militaristic stance toward the Soviets.
