The Age of Reform Jacksonian Era Reform Movements

THEME: A response to changes in economics and politics Education Prisons/ Asylums Temperance Communitarianism Women’s Rights Religion

Education An educated population is essential to a democracy. Public school movement Horace Mann  standards, consistency William McGuffey --> McGuffey “Readers”; instill civic virtues Colleges –New colleges: UNC, UVA –Women: Mt. Holyoke; Coed: Oberlin Informal education: libraries, Lyceum mov’t

Prison/Asylum Reform Reflects a “concern for the common man” Rehab v. punishment as a goal –“Gaols” become “penitentiaries” Dorothea Dix

Temperance Alcohol abuse effects families; workplace safety American Temperance Society Neal S. Dow / Maine Law (1851)

Women’s Rights Participatory democracy for whom? Universal male suffrage? “Cult of Domesticity” & Catherine Beecher Early Feminists: Mott, Stanton, Anthony, the Grimke Sisters Seneca Falls Convention –Declaration of Rights and Sentiments

Communitarianism Reactions against “dog-eat-dog” society and economic competition. –New Harmony – socialism –Brook Farm – transcendentalism / utopianism –Oneida – free love, complex marriage, eugenics, communism, and silverware! –Shakers – simple living, celibacy

The Oneida Community practiced eugenics or “scientific breeding” in which a special committee selected members of the community to breed children. In this image, children parade in front of their proud “parents.”

Religion Second Great Awakening –Emphasis on religion for the “common man” –New religions (Methodism, Baptists, etc.) encouraged missionary activity / reform New faiths emerge, especially in the west –Millerites –Mormons

Cartoon satirizing the death of Brigham Young in 1877