Ferment of Reform and Culture Chapter 15

Another revolution takes place in the U.S. in the 1800s Another revolution takes place in the U.S. in the 1800s The Second Great Awakening The Second Great Awakening Religious revival Religious revival Aimed to make America a better, more religious place Aimed to make America a better, more religious place Led to reform movements, ultimately abolition Led to reform movements, ultimately abolition Spread through camp meetings Spread through camp meetings Countless converted souls Countless converted souls

A. Reviving Religion America very religious, but new ideas were creeping in America very religious, but new ideas were creeping in Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason along with other ideas began to question mainstream religion Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason along with other ideas began to question mainstream religion Many people giving into the idea of Deism Many people giving into the idea of Deism Denying miracles, spirit, anything supernatural Denying miracles, spirit, anything supernatural Believe in a logical reasonable God Believe in a logical reasonable God

Unitarianism Unitarianism Denied the trinity Denied the trinity Believed that good works provide salvation Believed that good works provide salvation Believed that humans were essentially good Believed that humans were essentially good Rejected hell-fire Calvinism Rejected hell-fire Calvinism

Charles Grandison Finney Charles Grandison Finney Arguably the greatest of all revivalist preachers Arguably the greatest of all revivalist preachers Powerful speaker, thousands listened to him Powerful speaker, thousands listened to him Encouraged women to pray aloud in public (GASP) Encouraged women to pray aloud in public (GASP) Key feature of Second Great Awakening was the feminizing of religion Key feature of Second Great Awakening was the feminizing of religion Middle class women most fervent religious enthusiasts Middle class women most fervent religious enthusiasts Women began taking an active role Women began taking an active role

B. Denominational Diversity SGA furthered splits in xianity SGA furthered splits in xianity So much preaching in W. NY, it was nicknamed the Burned- Over District So much preaching in W. NY, it was nicknamed the Burned- Over District SGA also widened splits btwn classes and regions SGA also widened splits btwn classes and regions Wealthier, Educated, Easterners (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Unitarians) Wealthier, Educated, Easterners (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Unitarians) Methodists and Baptists were Southerners and Westerners, usually poorer and less-educated Methodists and Baptists were Southerners and Westerners, usually poorer and less-educated Churches also split over slavery Churches also split over slavery Southern churches advocated slavery Southern churches advocated slavery

C. A Desert Zion in Utah Joseph Smith began Mormonism around 1830 Religion native to America Initially Mormons upset many Americans (Oligarchy, cooperation, accusations of polygamy) Smith and his brother were murdered and Brigham Young took control Young led a migration to present-day Utah Utah became a flourishing community B/C of anti-polygamy laws, they were not allowed to become a state until 1896

D. Free Schools for a Free People At first, Public education was a joke, esp. in the South At first, Public education was a joke, esp. in the South New Jacksonian-Era voters saw a necessity to education New Jacksonian-Era voters saw a necessity to education Horace Mann fought for better school houses, longer terms, increased pay and better curriculum Horace Mann fought for better school houses, longer terms, increased pay and better curriculum Black slaves forbidden to learn Black slaves forbidden to learn Noah Webster improved textbooks and made a dictionary which standardized English Noah Webster improved textbooks and made a dictionary which standardized English William McGuffey also wrote effective textbooks William McGuffey also wrote effective textbooks Curriculum was usually patriotic, moral, and idealistic Curriculum was usually patriotic, moral, and idealistic

E. Higher Goals for Higher Learning State University also abound during this time period although State University also abound during this time period although University of Va. Founded by Jefferson University of Va. Founded by Jefferson Women at first, not accepted into universities (It would hurt their brains) Women at first, not accepted into universities (It would hurt their brains) 1820s, female schools spring up (Troy Female Seminary) 1820s, female schools spring up (Troy Female Seminary) Oberlin College in Ohio first to allow men and women together, also blacks Oberlin College in Ohio first to allow men and women together, also blacks Others learned from traveling lecturers (Lyceum Lectures) Others learned from traveling lecturers (Lyceum Lectures) Still others went to libraries or read magazines Still others went to libraries or read magazines

F. An Age of Reform SGA led to the Reform Era SGA led to the Reform Era People tried to rid America of social “evils” People tried to rid America of social “evils” Dorothea Dix created first hospitals for mentally ill Dorothea Dix created first hospitals for mentally ill William Ladd, American Peace Society “War on War” William Ladd, American Peace Society “War on War” Drunkenness a huge problem Drunkenness a huge problem American Temperance Society 1928 American Temperance Society 1928 Early advocates stress temperance rather than total elimination Early advocates stress temperance rather than total elimination Neal S. Dow pushed for prohibition Neal S. Dow pushed for prohibition Maine Law of 1851 prohibited sale or manufacture of alcohol in Maine Maine Law of 1851 prohibited sale or manufacture of alcohol in Maine Impossible to eliminate drinking, but the movements did make gains Impossible to eliminate drinking, but the movements did make gains

G. Women in Revolt Early 1800s, women considered legally inferior to men Place was in the home, subservient to her husband Women were keepers of the nation’s conscience (Cult of Domesticity) Early proponents of women’s rights Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony Involved in general reform movements, some advocating suffrage 1848, first women’s rights conference Seneca Falls Convention Stanton and Mott produced the Declaration of Sentiments Declared all men AND women created equal

Seneca Falls convention ridiculed during its time, but launched the modern women’s rights movement Seneca Falls convention ridiculed during its time, but launched the modern women’s rights movement Women gradually were gaining rights; being admitted to colleges and even own property by 1839 in Mississippi Women gradually were gaining rights; being admitted to colleges and even own property by 1839 in Mississippi

H. Wilderness Utopias People attempting to live in communal villages People attempting to live in communal villages Robert Owen founded Little Harmony, Indiana Robert Owen founded Little Harmony, Indiana Ultimately attracted all sorts of people and fell apart Ultimately attracted all sorts of people and fell apart Brook Farm, Mass., citizens committed to Transcendentalism Brook Farm, Mass., citizens committed to Transcendentalism Living without luxuries and working together Living without luxuries and working together The Oneida Community The Oneida Community Attempted eugenic reproduction Attempted eugenic reproduction The Shakers The Shakers Monastic society forbade marriage or sex Monastic society forbade marriage or sex Lasted longer than the other communities Lasted longer than the other communities

I. The Dawn of Scientific Achievement Early American inventors basically ripped-off European ideas New ideas did exist in America John J. Audubon wrote Birds of America, classified American Birds Medicine still sketchy, Bleeding a common practice Serious dental problems Life expectancy was short Patent “Medicines” were popular Fad Diets, Sylvester Graham wheat bread Medicine often harmful

J. The Blossoming of National Literature After War of 1812, powerful American literature began to appear The Knickerbocker Group Washington Iriving was 1 st American to win international recog. Wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle James Finimore Cooper 1 st American novelist Wrote adventure stories The Last of the Mohicans William Cullen Bryant Poet, wrote Thanatopsis Ultimately ended up writing for NY Evening post and set a model for journalism

K. Trumpeters of Transcendentalism Argued that truth was found not through the senses but beyond Argued that truth was found not through the senses but beyond Every person possesses an inner light that puts them in contact with God Every person possesses an inner light that puts them in contact with God Promoted ideas of individualism, self- reliance, self-discipline Promoted ideas of individualism, self- reliance, self-discipline Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Well-known Transcendentalist Well-known Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Wrote Walden Wrote Walden Lived for two years in the woods Lived for two years in the woods Also wrote Civil Disobedience Also wrote Civil Disobedience

Walt Whitman Wrote Leaves of Grass Collection of poems, highly romantic, emotional, and unconventional

L. Glowing Literary Lights Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Popular poet Popular poet Wrote The Song of Hiawatha Wrote The Song of Hiawatha John Greenleaf Whittier John Greenleaf Whittier Poet, wrote about injustice, slavery, etc Poet, wrote about injustice, slavery, etc Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott Wrote Little Women Wrote Little Women Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson

M. Literary Individualists and Dissenters Edgar Allen Poe Wrote morbid tales at odds with American ideals Nathaniel Hawthorne Very Calvinist writings, good and evil, the devil Wrote The Scarlet Letter Herman Melville Wrote Moby Dick Good and evil

N. Portrayers of the Past George Bancroft called the “Father of American History, six volume history of America George Bancroft called the “Father of American History, six volume history of America William H. Prescott wrote about conquest of Mexico William H. Prescott wrote about conquest of Mexico