15 The Ferment of Reform and Culture

Essential Questions 1.Assess the widespread revival of religion in the early nineteenth century and its effects on American culture and social reform. 2.Describe the causes of the most important American reform movements of the period, identifying which were most successful and why. 3.Evaluate the American literary flowering of the early nineteenth century, and differentiate between voices of optimism and voices of dissent from that optimism.

Technology and the Changing World

“No reform is now deemed impossible, no enterprise for human betterment is impracticable. Everything must be made better” – MA clergyman, 1844

The Hudson River School

Literature If the Garden of Eden was now on earth, they would not hesitate to run a railroad through it. James Fenimore Cooper Washington Irving

Literature ‘Tis too plain that with the material power the moral progress has not kept pace. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Primary Source Activity HAPP-P the excerpt from Walden, focusing on purpose. Discuss the role that influence of religion on Thoreau. In what ways does this connect to Thoreau’s and Emerson’s views on government? Discuss the influence that these views may have had on specific reform movements.

Discuss Evaluate the American literary flowering of the early nineteenth century, and differentiate between voices of optimism and voices of dissent from that optimism.

The Second Great Awakening

Finney’s Revivals

Main Idea 2GA’s impact on society – More church attendance – Moral reform (temperance, abolition) – Increased productivity – Assimilation

The Mormons

Discuss Assess the widespread revival of religion in the early nineteenth century and its effects on American culture and social reform.

Visions of Utopia

The Shakers

Robert Owen and New Harmony “Make a man happy and you make him virtuous—this is the whole of my system” --Robert Owen

Oneida Perfectionists John Humphrey Noyes

Discuss Describe the causes of the most important American reform movements of the period, identifying which were most successful and why.

Abolition’s Evangelical Roots Theodore Dwight Weld

Abolition’s Evangelical Roots William Lloyd Garrison

The American Anti-Slavery Society

Primary Source Activity HAPP-P the AASS Manifesto, focusing on audience. What influences does the AASS draw on in its Manifesto? What arguments did slaveholders have against the ideas of the AASS?

The Gag Resolutions

Women’s Rights

Primary Source Activity HAPP-P the Declaration of Sentiments, focusing on POV. Discuss the criticism of the movement by men and from working class women. Should women have asked for the vote at this time?

The Liberty Party

Black Abolitionists

Primary Source Activity HAPP-P Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman,” focusing on POV. Discuss the Truth’s POV in connection to the abolitionist and women’s rights movement. How might these movements have responded?

Primary Source Activity HAPP-P Douglass’s speech,” focusing on audience AND purpose. Douglass’s speech is very aggressive. In what ways would this be effective, and ineffective?

Workers

Immigrants