American Reform

Cycles of Reform Idealism Activism Innovation Americans have had reform movements in 1840s, 1860s, 1890s, early 20th century, 1930s, and 1960s

First Period of Reform Occurred in three stages Stage One – moral reform. An effort to make Americans more “godly.” Sabbatarianism – enforcement of Christian Sabbath. Not terribly successful. Prostitution Reform Prior to Civil War 10% of women in New York City involved. Opposed double standards of sex and morality. Published names of patrons, held pray-ins, and started job training programs.

Temperance – advocated total abstinence. Alcohol was cause of every problem in America. Advocated voluntary abstinence. Success? 1800 – 7 gallons/year 1820 – 3 gallons/year Immigration turned temperance advocates into prohibitionists. First prohibition law passed 1851 in Massachusetts. Familiar Ideas Substance abuse is at root of all problems. Attacks specific ethnic/cultural groups.

Stage Two – Social Reform Eliminate Crime Colonial era – punishment=shaming. Public opinion solved the problem of crime. New solution – Penitentiary Quarantine crime Longer punishment is a better opportunity to reform. Initially all punishment was solitary confinement.

Public Schools Most learned informally – apprenticeships, at home, Sunday schools. 1831 Massachusetts disestablishes Congregationalist Church. Replaces institution with “public school.” Original intent is non-academic Citizenship Behavior Basic morality End poverty Erase class differences

Horace Mann Strict moralist Believed children were perfect, but corrupted by society. Responsible for most academic standards still in place today. 9 month school year Age based grades No formal religious instruction Establishment of teaching colleges Mandatory attendance Convinced Massachusetts to fund with taxes. Negative side – all children need to be locked up for 8 hours a day, 9 months per year.

Creation of the institution as the problem solver. Dorothea Dix – taught in jails at Cambridge and found the insane locked in basements. Argued for creation of asylums for insane. Proper environment would lead to cure. The end result was a “dumping ground” as insane were simply shuffled. Modern times have seen a backlash to this mentality 40-50% of the homeless population consists of deinstitutionalized patients.