Reform & Abolitionist Movement Goal 2.5 & 2.6

Reform Society Reform mov’t of mid-1800’s stemmed from religious growth. Ministers preached that citizens should improve society. Most of reform leaders were women who wanted to correct the ills in society. Dorothea Dix – reformed mental institutions.

Reform mov’t continued Temperance – pushed for an end in alcohol consumption. Many reforms felt that alcohol caused more crime, disorder, and poverty than excessive drinking. Men spent $ on alcohol instead of food, etc. They also abused their wives. Some states passed laws to prohibit the sale of alcohol.

Reform mov’t con’t Prisons- everyone was placed in the same jail regardless of their crime. Wanted to rehabilitating prisoners rather in locking them up. Education Reform – push for public education. Increased # of voters and immigrants convinced people for the need of education. Democratic society can’t con’t if you don’t have public education.

Education Con’t Horace Mann – Created state board of ed. He stepped down from state senator to b/c secretary of new board. He doubled teachers salaries, opened 50 H.S. and created “normal schools” – schools for teacher training. Later, his state, Mass. Passed mandatory school attendance law. Noah Webster - published textbooks called “reading lessons” used to promote patriotism. Also wrote Webster Dictionary.

Early Women’s mov’t “Cult of Domesticity” – belief that women should stay at home and raise kids. Women were so successful at home that they felt they should extend their ideas to the community. Susan B. Anthony – an early women’s rights crusader. Wanted = rights and voting rights for women.

Women’s Rights Lucretia Mott & Elizabeth Cady Stanton – campaigned for women’s rights. Held a meeting called Seneca Falls Convention – marked the beginning of the organized women’s right mov’t. At the meeting they issued a Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions – modeled after Dec. of Indep. Asked for women suffrage.

Abolitionist Movement Abolitionist – people who wanted to end slavery. Abolitionist – people who wanted to end slavery. Terms that deal with abolition of slavery: Terms that deal with abolition of slavery: Manumission, gradualism, American Colonization Society, emancipation.

Abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison – published an antislavery newspaper Liberator. He called for an immediate end to slavery. Sarah and Angelina Grimke “Grimke Sisters” – women who work for abolitionism as well as women’s rights. Many women joined abolitionist mov’t hoping to gain rights for themselves.

African American Abolitionists Fredrick Douglass – run away slave who was outspoken on the ending slavery. He published an antislavery newspaper Northstar. Fredrick Douglass – run away slave who was outspoken on the ending slavery. He published an antislavery newspaper Northstar. Sojourner Truth – freed slave from NY. Gave emotional speeches about slavery. Sojourner Truth – freed slave from NY. Gave emotional speeches about slavery.

Reaction to abolitionist mov’t North – many disapproved of slavery, they were opposed to abolitionism even more. Free blacks would move N. and work for less than the white men. Afraid it would cause social disorder. North – many disapproved of slavery, they were opposed to abolitionism even more. Free blacks would move N. and work for less than the white men. Afraid it would cause social disorder. South – viewed slavery as a necessary evil. Wanted abolitionist newspaper shut down. They blamed newspapers for slave rebellions like Nat Turners. South – viewed slavery as a necessary evil. Wanted abolitionist newspaper shut down. They blamed newspapers for slave rebellions like Nat Turners.