2. Antebellum Reforms
From 1800 to 1840, social reformers fight to end things they consider “social evils”
It all starts with a religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening

3. The Second Great Awakening
…[There are many people] who know that they ought to be religious, but they are afraid if they become [faithful] they shall be laughed at by their companions. Such persons never will give up their false shame…until they are so excited that they cannot contain themselves any longer. —Evangelist Charles Finney

4. From 1800 to the 1830s, a series of religious revivals swept across America called the Second Great Awakening
Poverty, crime, and immorality seemed to be increasing at an alarming rate
The Second Great Awakening put a emphasis on doing good in society as part of Christian responsibility

5. Evangelical ministers like Charles Finney used emotional, soul-shaking sermons to convert the masses
When the church finds its members falling into gross and scandalous sins, then it is time for the church to awake and cry to God for a Revival of Religion.
Revivals involved highly emotional “camp meetings” with thousands of people in attendance

6. The Second Great Awakening had an important impact on American history
By 1850, 1 in 6 Americans was a member of a church
Joseph Smith created the Mormon Church
New utopian communities were created as many people wanted to live
Devout Christians were committed to reforming society
The angel Moroni presents Joseph Smith gold tablets that became the Book of Mormon

7. Second Great Awakening
Temperance
Asylum & Prison Reform
Education
Women’s Rights
Abolition

8. Temperance
One of the first reform movements was to get people to stop drinking called temperance

9. By 1800, alcohol abuse was seen as a serious problem
Whiskey was cheap to make and buy
By 1820, adults drank around 7 gallons of alcohol per year (Today, its 2.6 gallons)
Alcohol was linked to crime, debt, abuse, work problems

10. Reformers convinced people to make a “pledge” to not drink
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) played an important role in the temperance movement
From 1820 to 1830, drinking fell from 7 gallons per person per year to 3 gallons

11. Education Reform
“The elementary schools throughout the state are irresponsible institutions, established by individuals, from mere motives of private [profit], who are sometimes [lacking] character… and abilities. Ignorance, inattention, and even immorality, prevail to a [sad] extent among their teachers.” —Working Man's Advocate, 1830

12. By 1800, the U.S. did not have a true education system for children
Massachusetts and Vermont were the only states with compulsory attendance laws
In most states, classes were not divided by age
Few children attended school past the age of 10 years old

13. Horace Mann helped create teacher-training and curriculum programs
Education reformers demanded that states create public schools for children
Horace Mann helped create teacher-training and curriculum programs
Before the mid-1800s, no uniform educational policy existed in the United States. School conditions varied across regions. Massachusetts and Vermont were the only states before the Civil War to pass a compulsory school attendance law. Classrooms in the early schools were not divided by grade, so younger and older pupils were thrown together. Few children continued in school beyond the age of ten

14. By 1850, every state had publiclly-funded schools (but schools in the South and West were not very good)

15. Asylum and Prison Reform

16. Conditions were poor; knowledge of mental illness was non-existent
Early prisons housed the poor, the mentally ill, the physically challenged and criminals
Conditions were poor; knowledge of mental illness was non-existent
Dorothea Dix was an early advocate for prison reform
It would take decades for medical practice to become professionalized

17. State requirements to vote in elections
Voting Rights for Men
State requirements to vote in elections

18. Before 1800, America was not very democratic
Most states restricted voting to rich, white men by requiring property and tax qualifications
As a result, less than 50% of white men could vote by 1800
State requirements to vote in elections

19. From 1800 to 1840, democracy increased in America
By 1840, most states removed voting restrictions
As a result, 90% of “common” white men could vote (“universal white male suffrage”)
State requirements to vote in elections

20. Crash Course Reforms