Reforming American Society (1820-1850) Mr. Bennett, 11th Grade U.S. History

Main Idea Many modern social and political reform movements grew out of the reform movements of 19th Century America.

 Students will investigate the development of the abolitionist movement, focusing on Nat Turner’s Rebellion, Sojourner Truth, William Lloyd Garrison (The Liberator), Frederick Douglass (The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass and The North Star), and Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin).  Students will examine the emergence of the women’s rights movement out of the abolitionist movement, including the role of the Grimké sisters, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and evaluate the demands made at the Seneca Falls Convention (1848).

Second Great Awakening A renewal of religious sentiment in the country. Emphasized individual responsibility for seeking salvation as opposed to the belief in a pre- determined fate. Revivals- large gatherings of up to 20,000 people that lasted 4-5 days. People read the bible and examined their souls

Transcendentalism and Reforms Alternative to traditional religion. Pride in their culture. Writers included: Ralph Waldo Emerson …”that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau Importance of individual conscience People should not follow laws they see as unjust

Schools and Prison Reforms Prisons Dorothea Dix Studied prisons throughout the nation and sent a report to the Massachusetts legislature. Discovered that mentally ill people were being housed with prisoners. They passed a law to improve the conditions. Dix convinced 9 states to set up public hospitals for the mentally ill

Improving Education Schools were not required until after the C.W. Classrooms were not broken up by grade. P.A. passed laws that used tax-payer money to fund public schools. Horace Mann- Massachusetts Set up teacher training schools Curriculum reform Doubled money that state spent on education By 1850, all states had some form of public education

Women and Reform Interested in: Abolition Temperance Suffrage

The Big Names to Know Elizabeth Cady Stanton Lucretia Mott Grimke Sisters Susan B. Anthony Sojourner Truth Harriet Tubman

Women’s Roles in the Mid-1800s Restricted to the cult of domesticity- Housework and childcare were considered the only proper activities for married women. Women who worked made about half of what a man would make to do the same job. Could not vote, sit on juries, even if they were taxpayers. When married, her property and income became her husband’s.

Women abolitionists Sarah Grimke and Angelina Grimke- sisters and daughters of a South Carolina slave owner. Wrote articles detailing why slavery should be abolished. Collected signatures and sent them to Congress.

Temperance To prohibit the drinking of alcohol. Saw drunkenness as a major social problem.

Women’s Rights Movement Seneca Falls Convention Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott led Contained a list of grievances called the Declaration of Sentiments Signed the resolution that called for women to participate in all public issues except the right to vote.

Sojourner Truth A slave for 30 years. Rallied women based on her strength and resolve.