1. Martin VanBruen Panic of 1837 Reformers

2. Panic of 1837 Causes: 1. English banks -- responding to financial troubles at home -- stopped pumping money into the American economy, 2. U.S. banks, which had overextended credit to their clients, began to call in loans after British banks cut their money supply. 3. the 1836 Specie Circular caused a rush to exchange paper money for specie, banks stop taking paper

3. Panic of 1837 con’t Result: Loans dried up, and so did new purchases; businesses and civic projects collapsed. Many Americans went unemployed and others began to go hungry. Creditors refused to accept paper currency that seemed to be losing its value by the hour.

4. Panic of 1837 con’t Response: summer of 1840 Congress pass an independent treasury bill. an independent treasury system, in which the federal government would deposit its funds in a series of sub-treasuries refusing poorly managed state banks access to government funds

5. The Reformation Clara Barton (Civil War Nurse, Founder of the American National Red Cross) A religious – known as the Second Great Awakening – revival sparks reform movements, including calls to outlaw slavery. Factory laborers begin to demand better working conditions. A women’s rights movement forms.

6. Second Great Awakening Second Great Awakening—religious movement, sweeps U.S. after 1790 Individual responsible for own salvation, can improve self, society Preacher Charles Finney inspires emotional religious faith Large gatherings; some preachers get 20,000 or more at outdoor camps

7. Charles Finney

8. Second Great Awakening con’t Camp meetings, Baptist, Methodist churches open to blacks and whites Southern slaves interpret Christian message as promise of freedom In East, free African Americans have own churches African Methodist Episcopal Church— political, cultural, social place

9. Methodist revival in USA 1839

10. Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson leads group practicing transcendentalism: –literary and philosophical movement emphasizes simple life truth found in nature, emotion, imagination Henry David Thoreau puts self-reliance into practice, writes Walden Thoreau urges civil disobedience, peaceful refusal to obey laws

11. Unitarianism Unitarians stress reason, appeals to conscience in religion Agree with revivalists: individual, social reform important

12. Utopias Utopian communities—experimental groups, try to create perfect place In 1841, transcendentalist George Ripley establishes Brook Farm Most utopias last only a few years

13. Shaker Communities Shakers share goods, believe men and women equal, refuse to fight Do not marry or have children; need converts, adoption to survive

14. They splintered from a Quaker community in Manchester, England The members were known as the Shaking Quakers and were viewed as radical for their communion with the spirits of the dead and impassioned shaking that would occur at their services

15. Reforming Asylums and Prisons Dorothea Dix gets 10 states to improve conditions for mentally ill Reformers stress rehabilitation to obtain useful position in society

16. Dorothea Dix

18. Bethlehem Asylum 'Bedlam' one of the first asylums (1403)." Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.

19. "Wooden chair called the tranquilizing chair designed by Benjamin Rush the founder of American psychiatry and a signer of the US Constitution, equipped with restraints, he called it 'the tranquilizer'." Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.

20. "State hospitals called 'lunatic asylums' were advocated by Dorothea Dix in the early 1800's for compassionate treatment of the mentally ill." Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.

21. "A whirling chair and bed was one of the early treatments for mental disorders." Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.

22. The hollow wheel was used, so it has been said, to soothe one from an 'aberrant course' to reality. The "treatment" was reported to have lasted for up to 38 hours !

23. In the 17th Century the bath of surprise was used to shock the patient back from delusion. Trap door dropped the patient in the tub of cold water.

24. The Utica Crib was used in the 19th century as a way to lock down a violent patient.

25. The Tranquillizing Chair - supposed or intended to subdue the troubled mind?

26. Improving Education In early 1800s, school was not compulsory, not divided by grade Pennsylvania establishes tax-supported public school system in 1834 Horace Mann establishes teacher training, curriculum reforms By 1850s, all states have publicly funded elementary schools

27. Slavery and Abolitionist The Resettlement Question 1820s over 100 antislavery societies advocate resettlement in Africa Most free blacks consider themselves American; few emigrate Whites join blacks calling for abolition, outlawing of slavery

28. Slavery and Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison—radical white abolitionist; founds: ◦ New England Anti-Slavery Society ◦ American Anti-Slavery Society The Liberator calls for immediate emancipation— freeing of slaves

29. Slavery and Abolitionist Free Blacks –David Walker advises blacks to fight for freedom, not wait to get it –Southern free blacks work as day laborers, artisans –Northern free blacks given only lowest-paying jobs

30. Slavery and Abolitionist Frederick Douglass –As a slave, Frederick Douglass taught to read, write by owner’s wife –Douglass escapes; asked to lecture for Anti- Slavery Society –Douglass’s The North Star: abolition through political action

31. Women and Reform Cultural and Legal Limits on Women ◦ Cult of domesticity—only housework, child care for married women ◦ Single white women earn half of men’s pay for doing same job ◦ Women have few legal rights; cannot vote, sit on juries  - do not have guardianship of own children ◦ A married woman’s property, earnings belong to her husband ◦ Women delegates at World’s Anti-Slavery Convention rejected ◦ Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott form women’s rights society

32. Women and Reform Women Abolitionists –Middle-class white women inspired by religion join reform movements –Sarah and Angelina Grimké— work for abolition

33. Women and Reform Working for Temperance –Many women in temperance movement— prohibit drinking alcohol –Widespread use of alcohol in early 19 th century –American Temperance Society founded 1826; 6,000 local groups by 1833

34. Women and Reform Education for Women –Academic schools for women become available: 1821, Emma Willard opens Troy Female Seminary 1837, Mary Lyon founds Mount Holyoke Female Seminary 1837, Oberlin College admits 4 women; first coeducational college

35. Women and Reform Women and Health Reform ◦ Elizabeth Blackwell, doctor, opens clinic for women, children ◦ Catharine Beecher’s national survey finds most women unhealthy ◦ Amelia Bloomer rebels, designs loose pants; popular with other women

36. Women and Reform Seneca Falls Reform encourages women’s movement, give opportunities outside home 1848, Stanton, Mott hold Seneca Falls Convention for women’s rights “Declaration of Sentiments” modeled on Declaration of Independence Attendees approve all but one resolution of Declaration unanimously: ◦ men and women are equal ◦ urge women to participate in public issues ◦ narrowly pass women’s suffrage

37. Women and Reform Sojourner Truth Former Northern slave Sojourner Truth travels country preaching Later argues for abolition, women’s rights

38. Industry Reform Factories revolutionize industry: cost of household items drops Owners hire females who can be paid lower wages than men

39. Industry Reform Entrepreneurs like Francis Cabot Lowell open weaving factories in MA Conditions at Lowell ◦ Work 12 hours in heat, dark, poor ventilation: ◦ Conditions continue to deteriorate; 800 mill girls conduct a strike

40. Industry Reform 1834, strike over pay cut; 1836, strike over higher board charges –Company prevails both times, fires strike leaders –1845, Lowell Female Labor Reform Association founded

41. Industry Reform Workers Unionize ◦ Artisans form unions; begin to ally selves with unskilled workers ◦ 1830s–1840s, 1–2% of workers organized, dozens of strikes ◦ employers use immigrants as strikebreakers

42. Industry Reform National Trades’ Union 1830s, unions for same trade unite to standardize wages, conditions 1834, organizations from 6 industries form National Trades’ Union Bankers, owners form associations; courts declare strikes illegal

43. Industry Reform Court Backs Strikers