The established Eastern churches are slow to meet the needs of the frontier.

The Presbyterians and Congregationalists, since they depend on well-educated ministers, are shorthanded in evangelizing the frontier.

They set up a Plan of Union of 1801 to combine resources on the frontier.

Most frontiersmen show little commitment to religion until traveling evangelists begin to appear and to produce "revivals".

The local pioneers respond enthusiastically to these events and, in effect, evolve their own populist religions, especially during the Second Great Awakening (1790–1840), which features outdoor camp meetings lasting a week or more and which introduces many people to organized religion for the first time.

One of the largest and most famous camp meetings takes place at Cane Ridge, Kentucky in 1801.

The localistic Baptists set up small independent churches—Baptists abjure centralized authority; each local church is founded on the principle of independence of the local congregation.

On the other hand, bishops of the well-organized, centralized Methodists assign circuit riders to specific areas for several years at a time, then move them to fresh territory.

Several new denominations are formed, of which the largest is the Disciples of Christ.