A PUSH FOR REFORM Religion Sparks Reform Charles

A PUSH FOR REFORM

Religion Sparks Reform Charles Finney- led a religious movement in the North. � 2 nd Great Awakening- religious movement that encouraged people that their destiny rests in their own hands. � Hard work, living well, and doing God’s work on Earth was promoted. � Reform Era-launched by the 2 nd Great Awakening, was a time in which many Americans attempted to reshape society. (1830 -1860) �

Religion Sparks Reform � Reform Era-launched by the 2 nd Great Awakening, was a time in which many Americans attempted to reshape society. (1830 -1860) � One of the main goals was to reduce the use of alcohol…known as Temperance Movement.

Educational Reform Quality of teaching in common schools was poor. � Horace Mann- greatest educational reformer of era. � Adopted compulsory education. � Adopted use of Normal Schools, or schools where teachers could receive training. � In 1860, 60% of children attended school…almost 2 x the rate of the 1830’s �

Educational Reform � Did nothing for Native or African American children.

Reforming Prisons � Dorothea Dix- campaigned for proper treatment of prisoners and mentally ill. � Nonviolent and violent criminals were housed together in overcrowded cells with unsanitary conditions…many were abused by their jailers. � Her efforts created over 100 treatment centers for the mentally ill.

Transcendentalism and Utopianism Transcendentalism- movement that occurred in New England believed that knowledge is not found only through observation, but also through reason, intuition, and personal spiritual experiences. � Ralph Waldo Emerson- leading transcendentalist that gave lectures and wrote essays describing how people should be self reliant and trust intuition. � One of America’s most renowned authors. �

Transcendentalism and Utopianism � Henry David Thoreau- believed in power of self-reliance and individual thought. � Lived under idea that people should live under their own beliefs and break law if necessary. (tax example) � “government is best which governs least. ”

Transcendentalism and Utopianism � Utopianism- reformers that believed in creating new communities that would be free of social ills. � Utopia- “Perfect Society” � Reformers built more than 90 communities in the Utopian Movement in the 1 st half of the 1800’s.

Early Immigration and Reform Irish Immigration- influenced by the great Irish famine where over 1 million people died by 1850. � Faced with starvation, over 2 million fled to US. � German Immigration- influenced by economic depression, overpopulation, religious persecution, harsh tax laws and military service. � Came in search of free land business opportunites. �

Early Immigration and Reform � Immigrants were often poor and faced discrimination. � sheer numbers, religious beliefs, and cheap labor. � Know-Nothings- Anti-immigrant political group that was a secret fraternal organization. � Germans did not face issues that Irish faced…. Why?

Reform, Urbanization, and Industrialization 1800 – nearly everything was made by hand. � 1860 – 1/3 of all goods made by machine. � Cities began to grow and top 1% controlled half of major city wealth. � Vast majority of Americans were poor and lived in crowded apartments. � 1860 - 1 in 3 worked in factories. � Wage earners and creation of urban working class led to labor movement to fight for better working conditions. �

Women and Reform � Men who spoke out for women were outcasts. � Women were denied many basic rights and could not enter into a legal contract other than marriage. � When divorced, custody of kids awarded to dad. � Not allowed to own property…even household goods.

Women and Reform � Early 1800’s- 60% of factory jobs were held by women…. Why? � Wages of working women was property of husband or family. � Society’s view was women belonged in the home. � 1833 - Oberlin College was first to admit women…. most went to be teachers.

Women and Reform � Seneca Falls Convention- held in 1848 and was the first women’s rights convention held in US. � Elizabeth Cody Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized convention. � Attended by 300 people. � Produced the Declaration of Sentiments signed b 68 women and 32 men stating that all men and women were created equal.

Fight against Slavery � Slavery was an institution for 200 years. � Slaves in all states…but only until 1840’s in North. � By 1860, 4 million slaves in south created an economy based on slaves. � Slaves viewed as property. Purchasing slaves and providing for them was very expensive. � Expected to do whatever was asked.

Fight Against Slavery � Most common job for slave in South was __________. � Other jobs included construction, repair, hauling water, clearing land, cooking, cleaning, factory work, office work, etc. � Rd. paragraph on page 285. � No medical care and no rights. � Many lived in fear with no hope.

Fight Against Slavery Free blacks- played a major role in antislavery activities. � Between 1776 and 1860, 200 slave uprisings occurred in US. � Nat Turner led the deadliest slave revolt in US history. � Turner and 5 slaves killed owner and family, marched through Southampton Co. , VA, gathered 75 followers and killed dozens more white people. �

Fight Against Slavery � Local militia stopped revolt…. Turner and 19 other executed. � Other whites killed over 100 slaves for sympathizing with revolt. � Some slaves tried to escape…estimated between 40, 000 and 100, 000 escaped by 1860.

Fight Against Slavery � Underground Railroad- network of escape routes used by slaves to reach freedom. � Harriet Tubman- most famous worker on Underground RR…she escaped slavery and helped countless others do the same.

Fight Against Slavery Abolition Movement- campaign in the North to end slavery. � Largest movement of the Reform Era…no other movement garnered as much attention. � Deep roots in religion…Quakers did not believe in slavery. � William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass � Why so serious? ? 55% of exports were cotton �