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During the Antebellum period, approximately one-hundred reform communities were established (Foner, 443). Reformers believed it was important to impose order on the universe to create the perfect utopian society and even to the extent of controlling the actions of others. The conflicting opinions between the people of the United States caused a domino effect of reform movements during the early to mid-1800’s. The reform communities set out to solve the many detrimental effects of major social problems relating to alcoholism, mental illness, and lack of education. The religious nature of most of the reform movements was predominantly Protestant.Reformers believed in the idea of perfectionism; individuals in society were capable of unlimited
Some of the evils that the reformers of the period 1820-1860 were attempting to eliminate was the increased alcohol usage in that time period. The temperance movement was important because many people living in the northern United States were operating machinery and factory owners did not want their employees drunk while operating heavy machinery. Another evil that the reformers of the period were trying to eliminate was slavery. Many of the abolitionist came from the northern United States and believed that blacks should have equal rights to whites. Another evil that the reformers were attempting to eliminate was the inequality of women. Similar to slavery, many reformers believed that women should have equal rights to males in terms of pay for work, political rights, and social conventions. Next, the reformers were attempting to reform the education system. The reformers were attempting to make the education more public and with a more comprehensive curriculum. Lastly, another reform was a religious reform in which preachers were attempting to spread Christianity and inspire people to become more involved in Christianity.
“The connection between the revivals of the Second Great Awakening and abolition was so strong that it would hardly be an overstatement to say that the revivals were responsible for antislavery becoming a radical national movement.” During the time period, evangelical religion underlay the culture of America to such an extent that the revivals of the 1830s resulted in “tangible” structures for social reform — the revivals touched many aspects of political and social life. The revivals implicitly created political obligations and led to a demand for an activist
Various reform movements and revolutions occurred in the time period between the years 1825 through 1850. Justice, freedom, liberty, equality, and the purist of happiness are all democratic values considered to enforce the reform movements of this time period. The democratic ideals tried to cut the social separation and discordance present in America mainly between the south and north sections. Originating from the Second Great Awaking with vast religious reinforcement democratic ideals spread through the new reform movements. Main movements that supported the democratic views included the Second Great Awaking revival, antislavery reform and more equal rights movements for women and men.
The Effects of American Reform Movements in the 1900s Living in the United States of America is all about opportunity. The opportunity to get a good job, make money, and lead a life of good quality; in other words, the opportunity to live, live, and live the Pursuit of Happiness. However, the opportunity for many people was not around throughout the 1800s. Certain groups of people did not hold the basic rights that were guaranteed by the Constitution. In fact, most of the people that had opportunity were the wealthy white men, and few other people ever had any chance to lead a good life.
The antislavery movement before 1830s was menial, partially slow and not well supported. The antislavery movement before the 1830s was the spark of fire that led to the abolitionist acts after the 1830s. Abolitionism of the 1830s and on led to a great movement in America. The division of a country came at hand, leading up to various riots white men themselves killing each other over the freeing of slaves. The subjugated Negros fighting for a true place in American society under the hands of various abolitionist leaders who gave it all to stand up for the African Americans. They were to be heard all over the union causing divisions and discomfort throughout a close to dividing nation. Abolitionist movement after the 1830s had a greater impact on the nation as a whole with a spark of the antislavery acts before the 1830s and the failure of this movement, the very well spoken and praised leaders, and the well spoken and touching propaganda against slavery.
While some citizens of the United States, between 1825 and 1850, believed that reform was foolish and that the nation should stick to its old conduct, reformists in this time period still sought to make the United States a more ideally democratic nation. This was an age of nationalism and pride, and where there was pride in one’s country, there was the aspiration to improve one’s country even further. Many new reformist and abolitionist groups began to form, all attempting to change aspects of the United States that the respective groups thought to be unfair or unjust. Some groups, such as lower and middle class women and immigrants, sought to improve rights within the county, while other reformers aspired to change the American education system into a more efficient way of teaching the county’s youth. Still other reform groups, particularly involved in the church and the second great awakening, wanted to change society as a whole. This was a time and age of change, and all these reforms were intended to contribute to the democratic way our country operated.
The United States at the turn of the century was under going a major social movement. The United States was trying to change its society to a more moral country. The groups involved in the movement consisted of many groups from around the United States. Some of the most notable groups involved in the social reform movement were the churches in the country. They targeted many aspects of life of the normal Americans. The social reforms targeted social ills such as adultery, crime, and lastly, drinking. These groups had large number of followers, and had considerable height in government.
Many may say that the Antebellum Temperance Movement was primarily motivated by religious moralism. I tend to take that stance as well. The Antebellum Temperance Movement of the 18th century was focused around the idea that people, mostly men, should abstain from alcohol if they could not drink the spirits in moderation. In this era, many women had suffered greatly because their loved ones would imbibe excessively leaving them short on money, food, and even shelter which left many impoverished and unable to care for their families. Additionally, the excessive consumption of alcohol led to health care issues, crime and in the end, destitution. The first author, W.J. Rorabaugh, is a proponent on the side of how Christian ministers, “portrayed liquor as the tool of the devil and develop temperance societies as socialization institutions to ease social tensions and anxieties that contributed to alcohol consumption,” (Madaras, L.; SoRelle, J. Pg. 256) Appositionally, John J. Rumbarger opposes by stating that, “the nineteenth–century temperance reform was the product of the pro-capitalist market economy whose entrepreneurial elite led the way toward abstinence and prohibitionist campaigns. In order to guarantee the availability for a more productive workforce,” (Madaras, L.; SoRelle, J. Pg. 256). I agree with W.J. Rorabaugh that during the Antebellum Temperance Movement, the church’s played an enormous role in prohibiting alcohol consumption because it was the “tool of the devil”.
Reform movements such as woman’s rights, abolition, and religious beliefs sought to expand democratic ideals in the years 1825 to 1850. The reform movements were encouraged by the Second Great Awakening which began in New England which would then spread throughout the entire country. The Second Awakening was different from the first because people were able to choose if God existed and lived by his commands or not.
Reform movements including religion, temperance, abolition, and women's rights sought to expand democratic ideals in the years 1825 to 1850. However, certain movements, such as nativism and utopias, failed to show the American emphasis on a democratic society. The reform movements were spurred by the Second Great Awakening, which began in New England in the late 1790's, and would eventually spread throughout the country. The Second Great Awakening differed from the First in that people were now believed to be able to choose whether or not to believe in God, as opposed to previous ideals based on Calvinism and predestination.
Reform was the goal of the Progressive movement, and with that in mind the reformers had great success. Progressive reformers were made up primarily of middle class men and women whose two main goals were to limit the trusts and to improve conditions of life and labor. These people were part of both political parties at the time, as well as in all regions of the country, and in all levels of the government. They wanted to remove bribed members of the legislature so that just laws and regulations were made that would benefit the people rather than the power-hungry corporations. This major movement altered all aspects of life creating a better living and working environment for people. The Progressive Era reformers and federal government developed the political, social, and economical elements for the better of the country.
The Age of Reform throughout 1825-1850 was a great turning point for American society. The ideas and beliefs throughout the reform movements greatly expanded the democratic ideals. Reform movements in the United States sought to express ideas through religion and education, start movements through abolition and temperance acts, expand beliefs by caring for the insane, and take a stand by speaking up for personal rights .
Reforms are an important part in the development of the new culture because people were being allowed to express new even sometimes drastic ideas that opposed tradition. Religion with the second Great Awakening were allowed to changed and those religions even the most opposed like the Mormons gained enough strength to keep going. Even Utopian society’s like Oneida who took the change in the family relationships and made it more radical by creating free love was strong enough to last a while. All these individual reforms that were based on somebody’s or some groups ideas can become apart of society no matter how different because the new culture believed in individual thought. Other reforms like the ones for temperance and the humane treatment of the mentally ill gained track for their need to want to help everyone. These reforms attempted to help society become better by helping those that have always been considered outcast. So in considering everyone a part of humanity they really began to believe that an individual can bring it self up to anything by helping oneself. Reforms helped develop the culture to something based off of all the individual ideas that the society was exploring.
Not only a history professor at the University of Washington, W.J. Rorabaugh was also has notable published research based on the 1960s, including; Berkeley at War: The 1960s (Oxford University Press, 1989), Kennedy and the Promise of the 1960s (Cambridge University Press, 2002), and The Real Making of the President: Kennedy, Nixon, and the 1960 Election (University Press of Kansas, 2009). (Pg. 138). In the article, Was Antebellum Temperance Reform Motivated Primarily by Religious Moralism?, the focus of the article was to determine what the prime motivation behind the temperance reform was, whether it was a religious reason or because it was for social and business benefits. While both sides agreed that the ultimate goal was to “perfect the
In between the years of 1870-1900, Great Britain became more involved in continental Europe’s affairs rapidly expanding in its foreign policy such as the arms race against Germany and alliance with France, and domestic issues close at home with social reforms. One of the world’s most powerful empires saw a period of reform that gradually increased political democracy and improved economic and social conditions for all. Four types of reforms that were made included parliamentary reforms, workers’ rights, education, and social welfare.