Antebellum Reforms

Causes Rooted in the Christian sense of mission Liberation of the human spirit was a Romantic ideal Expansion of democratic ideals= greater civic duty Growing middle class (base of the reforms) Cult of domesticity allows for women to participate in social reforms AND…the message of the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening Everyone is capable and deserving of salvation, achievable through faith and good deeds--perfectionism Charles G. Finney led the revival movement

Effects of the 2nd great awakening New York—burned over district New, more evangelical denominations such as Baptists and Methodists Unitarians arose as critics of “uncouth” revivals Mormons founded & migrated to Utah to avoid persecution 2nd G.A is mostly a reaction against the cold rationalism and debates over Calvinism Charles Finney plays on emotions, especially fear Teach hard work and appeal to the middle class Circuit preaches become popular among Methodists and Baptists William Miller and the “Millerites” become a sect a millennialists who pose a specific date for Christ’s return Joseph Smith – founder of Mormonism Bringham Young – leads them to Salt Lake to escape persecution Polygamy and racism in early Mormon societies, has been done outlawed today *Religious revival is prominent mostly in Northern states* Why? (more urban, response to changing society, South is more static, less education, less interaction because of rural culture)

What were the true motives of the reformers? Were they idealistic humanitarians whose chief goal was to create a just and equitable society? Were these just attempts by the Protestant Church and the upper & middle class to instill their moral beliefs and control the masses?

Consider who, what, and why? Public education Prison and asylum reform Transcendentalism Utopian communities Temperance Abolition Women’s rights