Era of Reform Reasons for Reform Temperance and The Bottle Prison and Asylum Education and Leadership

The Age of Reform Reasons: Reasons: The Great Awakening sparked interest that the individual could control their destiny and that “good deeds” will make the nation a better place The Great Awakening sparked interest that the individual could control their destiny and that “good deeds” will make the nation a better place The middle-class feel that they should be models of behavior for the “unmannered and ill-behaved” The middle-class feel that they should be models of behavior for the “unmannered and ill-behaved” Finally, women are driving forces for reform because they are no longer kept at home and now have a voice (predominantly in the church) Finally, women are driving forces for reform because they are no longer kept at home and now have a voice (predominantly in the church)

The Temperance Movement Lyman Beecher, a minister preached that drinking led to adultery, poverty and crime Lyman Beecher, a minister preached that drinking led to adultery, poverty and crime Under Beecher millions of Americans confess they “have fallen into the hands of sin” and pledge to stop drinking Under Beecher millions of Americans confess they “have fallen into the hands of sin” and pledge to stop drinking

The Temperance Movement In 1830, Americans drink an average of 5 gallons of liquor a year In 1830, Americans drink an average of 5 gallons of liquor a year Reformers argue that drinking causes domestic violence, public rowdiness and loss of family income Reformers argue that drinking causes domestic violence, public rowdiness and loss of family income The real problem is Americans have the habit of drinking all day The real problem is Americans have the habit of drinking all day

Asylums and Prison Reform Dorothea Dix addressed how the insane were treated Dorothea Dix addressed how the insane were treated She found that the insane were “degraded, beaten, naked and chained” in prisons with criminals She found that the insane were “degraded, beaten, naked and chained” in prisons with criminals She urged lawmakers to build public asylums She urged lawmakers to build public asylums

Asylums and Prison Reform Dorothea also discovered that people were placed in prisons for debt, people were subjected to cruel punishment and children were not treated any different than adults Dorothea also discovered that people were placed in prisons for debt, people were subjected to cruel punishment and children were not treated any different than adults She is responsible for helping eliminate sentencing for debt, ending cruel punishment and getting states to establish juvenile court systems She is responsible for helping eliminate sentencing for debt, ending cruel punishment and getting states to establish juvenile court systems She argues that people can change if they are placed in proper environments and given an education She argues that people can change if they are placed in proper environments and given an education

Prison Life

Education Reform Only the wealthy were able to get a good quality education Only the wealthy were able to get a good quality education Horace Mann, pushed for public education funded by taxes Horace Mann, pushed for public education funded by taxes He argued that “education was the great equalizer” for the poor and minorities He argued that “education was the great equalizer” for the poor and minorities

Educational Reform In 1837, Olberlin College begins admitting women and African Americans In 1837, Olberlin College begins admitting women and African Americans In cities young boys at 14 left school to work to help their families In cities young boys at 14 left school to work to help their families

African Colonization The American Colonization Society in 1817 pushed for the release of slaves and their return to Africa The American Colonization Society in 1817 pushed for the release of slaves and their return to Africa Some Northerners support this because they believe that blacks should be separate from whites Some Northerners support this because they believe that blacks should be separate from whites Some Southerners support colonization because they would ship away free blacks Some Southerners support colonization because they would ship away free blacks 1,400 African Americans go to Africa colonize Liberia 1,400 African Americans go to Africa colonize Liberia

Membership to the American Colonization Society

American Anti-Slavery Society Founded in 1833 it sponsored lectures, sent antislavery petitions to Congress, published journals and printed pamphlets that attacked slavery Founded in 1833 it sponsored lectures, sent antislavery petitions to Congress, published journals and printed pamphlets that attacked slavery Free slaves would tell their stories to a white audience Free slaves would tell their stories to a white audience The society's activities were usually attacked by mobs supporting slavery The society's activities were usually attacked by mobs supporting slavery

Henry Lloyd Garrison Published The Liberator, a newsletter that demanded an end to slavery Published The Liberator, a newsletter that demanded an end to slavery His writings angered Southerners because he wants slaves freed immediately His writings angered Southerners because he wants slaves freed immediately While in Boston in 1835 a mob will beat him. The beating wins people to his cause. Because it exposes supporters of slavery as inhumane individuals While in Boston in 1835 a mob will beat him. The beating wins people to his cause. Because it exposes supporters of slavery as inhumane individuals

Frederick Douglass Born to a white father and black mother Born to a white father and black mother Ship caulker who escapes slavery to become a leading abolitionist speaker Ship caulker who escapes slavery to become a leading abolitionist speaker His book, The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass exposes slavery’s horrors His book, The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass exposes slavery’s horrors He will publish The Lone Star, an abolitionist paper He will publish The Lone Star, an abolitionist paper

Sojourner Truth Freed slave who claimed to her “heavenly voices” Freed slave who claimed to her “heavenly voices” She spoke out for women’s rights and for abolition She spoke out for women’s rights and for abolition In 1851 demanded to speak at a women’s convention in Ohio In 1851 demanded to speak at a women’s convention in Ohio Lectured about the cruel treatment encountered as a slave. Lectured about the cruel treatment encountered as a slave.