Social Reform Dbq

The period between the 1820s and the 1830s was a tumultuous era for the young republic. During the period, the United States faced many challenges in many areas. However, the reformers strove to make America a better nation. First was religious reform. The fire of religion liberalism was ignited on the southern frontier and quickly flamed across the Northeast, which launched a Second Great Awakening in the United States. As a result, ministers from all denominations preached doctrines to ordinary Americans at numerous revivalist meetings and countless converts reorganized churches and new sects. [1] With the strong belief in Christianity, the devout Christian crusaders also triggered other reforms at the time. [2] Educational reform was on

their list. As the nation’s population grew immensely, wealthy and conservative Americans concerned a lot about the education of the young generation, especially those from poor background. They believed that tax-supported education was the way to educate the ordinary, which in turn made the stability and democracy of the nation possible. Not only was the public education refined, but higher education was supported by the government. The first state-supported universities began to spread across the South. Although women’s higher education was unwelcomed, the seeds of secondary education were also planted during the period.

[3] Additionally, serious drink problem haunted the nation. Seeing the serious threat to the United States, many reformers vowed to save the society as a whole from alcoholism. Consequently, the American Temperance Society was formed in 1826 to educate people the perils of drink. The consumption of alcohol decreased immensely. [4] As the nation was developing, the crime rate was increasing at the same time. Worried the spread of the evils, the reformers began to establish correctional institutions to help those committed crimes with rehabilitation. [5] Based on evangelicalism, the reformers strongly opposed slavery and openly supported abolitionism. For them, slavery contrasted what they believed in the American spirit. Despite facing many obstacles, the abolitionists gradually made some progress denouncing slavery. [6] The reformers were also convinced that a perfect society was built upon justice and morality. To achieve such a perfect society, they built more than forty communities of a cooperative and communistic nature. For example, Robert Owen established a communal society at New Harmony in 1825 to promote happiness based on principles of equal rights and righteous

living. [7] Finally, as the nation became industrialized, collisions between the capitalists and the workers increased. The workers blamed long-hour working, poor working conditions and low wages and started organized themselves to protest and demanded higher wages, better working conditions and social justice. [8]

The years between the 1820s and the 1830s marked the one of the important historical time in American history. Many challenges swept across the republic; however, the reformers with firm belief in evangelicalism were still optimistic and bravely faced the challenges and made great efforts to make the United State a better nation growing from a pigmy to a giant that would play a significant role in the world of the balance of power.