The Common School Era Massachusetts in the 1830’s Demographics Politics Economics Ideology

Demographic Changes  Settlers went from the coastal states to the interior territories  Irish immigrants--settled in the northeast mainly – Poor, unskilled and Catholic  Urbanization stimulated by industrialization. – Led to a growing gap between rich and poor – Increased crime

Political Changes 1789 fewer than 1 in 7 could vote 1824, 4 in 7 white men could vote Democrat Andrew Jackson gained more power as did his party. Upper class supported the Whig party. Upper class was alarmed at how many “uneducated” voters there were. Upper class supported education so that theses voters could make informed and educated voting decisions.

Economics  Transportation was a key change maker in the economy of Massachusetts  Transportation improvements increased people, goods and produce movement  Expansion of commerce centered in port cities, especially New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore  Industrial development began in country side with cottage industries.  Cottage industries became factories in New England  Rise in commerce and industrialization presented the need for schooling

Ideology  Early in the period, Puritanism was still influential  Later in period more belief in a benevolent God who created a rational universe and endowed human nature with rationality – New Englanders began to believe that God had given them the power for improvement  Prisons were built—notion to reform rather than punish  Hospitals for mentally ill were built  Youthful offender institutions were developed-- Reformatories

Ideology continued  Women’s suffrage movement received support – Belief that God created even women with rational capacity  Abolitionists believed African-Americans should be free – Belief that all God’s creatures were equal  More government involvement and centralization of authority  Laissez Faire now meant the government should step in when necessary to assist economic development  Classic Liberalism spread from government to citizens now – Faith in human reason – Newton’s conception of Natural Law – Continuing progress

Ideology continued  Politics, newspapers and churches became vehicles for new ideas  State power over education began to overpower local self-government.  Literacy was needed to read the Bible