Tocqueville & Beaumont American tour of the Great Republic Democracy in America – Tocqueville Emphasis on equality Labor conditions, poverty, wealth gap European visitors to America Fanny Trollope – Domestic Manners of Americans Charles Dickens – “Republic…full of sores and ulcers”
A Restless People Tocqueville – “In America, men never stay still, something is almost always provisional about their lives” Trollope – “Their incessant bustling” similar to their eating too fast and spitting too often. It stemmed from their “universal pursuit of money”
A Restless People Population increases – doubling every 22 years New states added continuously Migration to new lands but also cities Growth of new cities South – only 4 major cities – all on the periphery
The Family Recast Assignment - Construct a chart that Shows the characteristics of the Middle-Class family Shows changes from earlier American society to that of the mid-1800’s Pages
Family UnitEarly AmericaMid-1800’s Family Family was major unit of economic production Cities undermined importance of family as jobs took place outside the home Husband Husband held power in the family Some power had to be given to the wife as husband works outside home Wife Children
Family UnitEarly AmericaMid-1800’s Family Family was major unit of economic production Cities undermined importance of family as jobs took place outside the home Husband Husband held power in the family Cash normally in hands of husband Role of husband as monarch Some power had to be given to the wife as husband works outside home Cash now initially in hands of the earner Role of husband as limited monarch- inability to control Wife Women’s roles constrained by power of husband Women were partners in family enterprises Women had many children More equality for women as power is shared Women discouraged from earning their own living Women expected to tend only to duties in the home Women had fewer children – had children later – effort to limit family size Children Children kept at arms reach – disciplined Children viewed as future workers Fewer children led parents to prize children more Mother responsible for secular & religious education Children viewed as innocents to be loved
Second Great Awakening Many Calvinist tenets in dispute – infant damnation and predestination Charles Grandison Finney Salvation versus fire & brimstone Entertainment Growth in church membership Changes in economic situation and families helped Awakening Women took major role in movement
Era of Associations Three pillars of the American Middle-Class The recast family A resurgent church Associations Associations No colonial precedents or European equivalent Led by professional class – membership common class Established for local or national causes
Backwoods Utopias Some established experimental communities Communitarians - to achieve social reorganization first by demonstrating it on a small scale The Shakers Founded by Ann Lee 1774 Celibacy – sexes segregated The Family House Industrious - furniture
Backwoods Utopias Amana Community Inspirationist movement Oneida Community “Community” marriages Mormons Founded by Joseph Smith Nauvoo Polygamy Nauvoo Legion Murder of Smith Brigham Young - Great Salt Lake
Age of Reform Thomas Gallaudet – School for the deaf Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe – School for the blind Rise of the institution versus family care Science and separation from society Dorothea Dix
Demon Rum 1820’s – peak of American alcohol consumption Availability of cheap corn whiskey Drunkenness crossed class and age lines American Temperance Union established 1826 – “sign the pledge” Opposition increased as demands for restraint became calls for prohibition States imposed strict licensing requirements and heavy taxes Towns and counties could become “dry”
Abolition & Women’s Rights Assignment: Compare and Contrast Working individually, or with a partner, create a Venn Diagram that compares and contrasts the Abolition Movement with the Women’s Rights Movement Pages
Abolition Movement Women’s Movement Similarities