1. America in the Antebellum Age

2. I.Religious Revival and Reform Philosophy

3. Finney and the Second Great Awakening From the late 1790s to the late 1830s, a wave of religious revivalism swept through the United States.From the late 1790s to the late 1830s, a wave of religious revivalism swept through the United States. Personified by the flamboyant Charles Finney who preached every night for six months in Rochester, New York.Personified by the flamboyant Charles Finney who preached every night for six months in Rochester, New York. Revivalists toned down the Calvinist rhetoric and preached a religion of inclusiveness.Revivalists toned down the Calvinist rhetoric and preached a religion of inclusiveness.

4. The Transcendentalists A small but influential group of New England intellectuals who lived around Ralph Waldo Emerson, the era’s foremost thinker.A small but influential group of New England intellectuals who lived around Ralph Waldo Emerson, the era’s foremost thinker. The group was called Transcendentalists because of their belief that truth was found in intuition beyond the senses.The group was called Transcendentalists because of their belief that truth was found in intuition beyond the senses. They questioned slavery and the pursuit of wealth.They questioned slavery and the pursuit of wealth. Members included Nathanial Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau (“On Civil Disobedience”)Members included Nathanial Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau (“On Civil Disobedience”)

5. II.The Political Response to Change

6. Changing Political Culture Andrew Jackson’s presidency was instrumental in bringing politics to the center focus of many American lives.Andrew Jackson’s presidency was instrumental in bringing politics to the center focus of many American lives. Jackson promised a more democratic system of politics.Jackson promised a more democratic system of politics. He was personally not very democratic, owned slaves, and favored the forced removal of Indians to the west.He was personally not very democratic, owned slaves, and favored the forced removal of Indians to the west. His administration did see the effectual emergence of a competitive party system.His administration did see the effectual emergence of a competitive party system.

7. Old Hickory’s Vigorous Presidency  Jackson’s key principles: Majority ruleMajority rule Limited power of the national governmentLimited power of the national government The obligation of the government to defend the nation’s average people against the tyranny of the wealthyThe obligation of the government to defend the nation’s average people against the tyranny of the wealthy Aggressive use of the presidential vetoAggressive use of the presidential veto Favored a rotational system of staffing the governmentFavored a rotational system of staffing the government

8. Jackson’s Indian Policy Andrew Jackson favored forcible removal and relocation westward on reservations.Andrew Jackson favored forcible removal and relocation westward on reservations. A Supreme Court decision in 1823 stating that Indians could occupy but not hold title to land in the United States made Jackson’s policy easy to implement.A Supreme Court decision in 1823 stating that Indians could occupy but not hold title to land in the United States made Jackson’s policy easy to implement. Using harassment and bribery, Jackson’s administration forced many of the Indian Nations to march west to present-day Oklahoma.Using harassment and bribery, Jackson’s administration forced many of the Indian Nations to march west to present-day Oklahoma.

10. The Second American Party System Democrats: represented the common man with a broad base of support across the nation, logic often shaped policyDemocrats: represented the common man with a broad base of support across the nation, logic often shaped policy Whigs (formerly Republicans): represented majority of wealth in America and big businesses, religion often shaped policyWhigs (formerly Republicans): represented majority of wealth in America and big businesses, religion often shaped policy

12. America in the Antebellum Age Part 2

13. III.Perfectionist Reform and Utopianism

14. Utopian Communities: The Shakers Many reformers of the age sought to create the perfect representation of what life should be. The Shakers believed in communal property, perfectionism, and celibacy. Shaker worship featured a wild dance intended to release sin from the body.Shaker worship featured a wild dance intended to release sin from the body.

16. Other Utopias  Over 100 communities like the Shakers were founded during the era: The Ephrata colony of PennsylvaniaThe Ephrata colony of Pennsylvania The Hopedale community of Mass.The Hopedale community of Mass. The Harmonists of IndianaThe Harmonists of Indiana oClosely Mormons

17. IV. Reforming Society

18. Temperance Nineteenth century Americans drank to excess. Early efforts at curbing the public’s consumption focused on moderation. The American Temperance Society (1826) was dedicated to total abstinence.The American Temperance Society (1826) was dedicated to total abstinence. The Society successfully used revival techniques of the Second Great Awakening to motivate “converts.”The Society successfully used revival techniques of the Second Great Awakening to motivate “converts.”

19. Humanizing the Asylum Some efforts of reform were aimed at organizations such as hospitals or asylums., believing adequate facilities and proper living conditions would go far to produce some sort of a “cure.”Dorothea Dix championed the cause of the mentally ill, believing adequate facilities and proper living conditions would go far to produce some sort of a “cure.”

20. Working-Class Reform In America, the institution most in need of reform was the factory. The reform movement gradually was adapted to the plight of workers and trade unions began to appear.The reform movement gradually was adapted to the plight of workers and trade unions began to appear. Skilled workers began to organize to protect their crafts and to negotiate better conditions.

21. Tensions Within the Antislavery Movement ; most preferred religious education, political action, boycotts of slave-harvested goods, or downright rebellion.The majority of abolitionists in America disagreed on how to reform slavery; most preferred religious education, political action, boycotts of slave-harvested goods, or downright rebellion.