Religion and Reform

Transcendentalism Believed spiritual discovery and insight could lead to truth Urged self reliance and acting on one’s own beliefs Ralph Waldo Emerson Leader of Transcendentalist movement Launched American Renaissance Henry David Thoreau Author of Walden Protested Mexican War and slavery in the States

Temperance Encouraged ABSTINENCE – not drinking alcohol Movement would eventually lead to Prohibition in the 1920s

Education Horace Mann pushed for free education, to be paid for by taxes Moral education stressed in schools Thrift Obedience Honesty Temperance

Prisons All age groups and variance of criminal housed in the same facility Dorthea Dix fought for appropriate treatment of the mentally ill

Nativist Movement Republican belief Favored native-born Americans over immigrants

Abolitionist Movement Movement to end slavery William Lloyd Garrison published The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper Frederick Douglass Most influential African abolitionist Escaped as a slave… later bought his own freedom Published the North Star, an abolitionist newspaper Harriet Tubman Worked as part of the “Underground Railroad” Was called “Black Moses” for rescuing over 300 slaves

Women’s Rights Many cultural and legal restrictions on women Catherine Beecher inspired women to build a strong American society Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the first convention to discuss women’s rights