The 1830s were a tempestuous time for American Protestantism, from the fires of the Second Great Awakening to the ongoing march of Unitarianism. Adding to the general excitement, a self-described biblical prophet, William Miller, came up with two dates for Doomsday in that fraught decade. When neither eventuated, Miller declared himself a failure, and retired from the prophecy business. His followers were much dismayed by this “Great Disappointment”. Many returned to the denominations from which they had come. Many more joined the Shakers.