Antebellum Reform

The Knickerbocker GroupThe Knickerbocker GroupPioneers of distinctly American Literature (circa 1820s)Pioneers of distinctly American Literature (circa 1820s)

notablynotablyWashington Irving, essayist and writerWashington Irving, essayist and writer

James Fenimore Cooper, novelistJames Fenimore Cooper, novelistWilliam Cullen Bryant, poet and journalistWilliam Cullen Bryant, poet and journalist

Named “The Knickerbocker Group” in honor of Irving’sNamed “The Knickerbocker Group” in honor of Irving’sKnickerbocker’s History of New York Knickerbocker’s History of New York (1809)(1809)

Influenced Hawthorne, Longfellow and other American writersInfluenced Hawthorne, Longfellow and other American writers

IrvingIrving CooperCooper BryantBryant

Knickerbocker SignificanceKnickerbocker Significance• Washington IrvingWashington Irving

First American man of letters for his essaysFirst American man of letters for his essaysWrote short stories “Rip van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (1819)Wrote short stories “Rip van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (1819)

• James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore CooperFirst American novelist of noteFirst American novelist of noteWrote novels Wrote novels The DeerslayerThe Deerslayer and and The Last of the Mohicans The Last of the Mohicans (1826)(1826)First writer to feature native Indians and the American wildernessFirst writer to feature native Indians and the American wilderness

• William Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen BryantFirst American poet of noteFirst American poet of noteWrote poems “To A Waterfowl” and “Thanatopsis” (1817)Wrote poems “To A Waterfowl” and “Thanatopsis” (1817)Served as editor of Served as editor of The New York Evening PostThe New York Evening Post for almost 50 years for almost 50 years

• Their literary “voice” and themes were Their literary “voice” and themes were distinctly Americandistinctly American..

• Europeans acknowledgedEuropeans acknowledged and appreciated their literary talents. and appreciated their literary talents.

• New YorkNew York became the literary center of America. became the literary center of America.

Washington Irving

Born 1783-1859Irving was a great writer. He mostly

focused on American politics and religious disputes.

Specifically the second great awakening which was a reform movement geared to

abolish predestination beliefs.

Irving was in the Kenkerbocker group

• He wrote The Sketch Book a group of his writings that where published by both American and British publishers.

• One of the more renowned literatures that Irving wrote is Sleepy Hollow. This happens to be one of my favorite books.

• Irving and two other writers were some of the most important figures during the late 1800-1900s.

James Fenimore Cooper

• Born in 1789 in New Jersey

• Attended Yale university, but was expelled for a prank

• Married Susan Augusta De Lancey in1811

• He lived in Europe with his family for seven years

Accomplishments

• Was the first American to make a career as a novelist

• His books created the genre of frontier adventure tales

• One of his most known books was The Last Mohicans which was written in 1826

~ took place during the third year of the French and Indian war

• some of the themes are: interracial friendship, religion, and nature

Herman Melville

• 1819 –1891

• American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet.

• Born and died in New York City

• Traveled

Herman Melville

Best known for writing

Moby Dick.

Forgotten by the time

he died.

Transcendentalism

1836-1860

•Began in Unitarian church.

•Renewal of Calvinism.

•“Man is one with the world”

•Independence.

Significance of Transcendentalism

• Foundation of modern reform movements.

• Powerful democratic force.

• Suffrage of Women, Temperance for All, Rise of Free Religion.

• Differences.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

Emerson pioneered transcendentalism. He was against slavery and for freedom. Some of his views are that each person is directly associated with God and nature. He founded the Transcendental club in 1836. Emerson was a prominent lecturer, essayist, and poet of his time (1803-1882). One of his famous poems was Nature which he wrote in 1836 expressing many of his transcendentalist thoughts.

-Born in 1817 in Concord Massachusetts, died in May of 1862 to Tuberculosis

-Studied at Harvard

-Influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson after reading his novel, Nature, which sparked his interest in Transcendentalism.

-Most known for his novel, Walden.

-Imposed ideas of a correct society and inner being through his writing

-Walden -Thoreau left to seclude himself at Walden Pond

-Used his experience and views from Transcendentalism to write a novel

-Focused on the importance of nature and the human soul away from society

-Heavily controversial

-Stayed for two years (July 1845 – September 1847)

-Civil Disobedience-Written after spending a night in jail during his stay at Walden

Margaret Fuller

• Her father was determined to give her the best education possible

• Member of the transcendentalist group

• Had a big influence on women's rights

• She also wrote many books

Margaret Fuller

• She visited Europe and met with famous writers there

• She fell in love with one of the officers in the Italian Unification Movement

• She joined the movement but after it failed she planed to return to America

• On the way home her ship ran aground and she and her family drowned

Edgar Allen Poe1809

Edgar Poe born in Boston to actors David and Eliza Poe, 19 January

1811

His mother dies in Richmond, VA, Dec. 8th

1815-20

Lived in England for five years

1825

Got secretly engaged

1826

Studied at UVA

1827

Leaves for Boston & Enlists in the Army

Publishes Tamerlane & other poems in Boston

1829

Promoted to Sarg. Major

Discharged in March

1831

Moves in with Aunt and cousins

1833•Short Story “MS. Found In A Bottle wins literary prize

1835•Hans Pfaal published in Southern Lit. Messenger•Courts cousin, Virginia Clemm

1836•Marries Virginia Clemm, his cousin.

1839•Becomes Asst. Editor of Burton’s Gentleman Magazine in June

1840

Quarrels with editor of Burton’s Magazine, Publishes Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque (2 vols.)

Life Summed Up1842

• Publishes:

- The Pitr and the Pendulum

- The Masque of Red Death

- The Mystery of Marie Roger

1843• Publishes three more stories and hisc riticak essay “The Rationate of Verse”

1846• Severals poems translated, very ciritcal in France. Writes two more publishing's, a short story, critical essay

and

1847• Poe falls ill• Completes Ulalume Poem

1848• Eureka philosophical essay• Reads”ThePoetic Principle” to aa audience of 1800 people• Writes the Bells

1849• In Richmond to lecture and see friends in Mid-Summer• Engaged to widow Sara Shelton, (former fiancee)• Leaves Richmond for New York, Sept. 27th

• Found delirious in Boston, Oct. 3rd

• Dies, Octorber 7th

July 29, 1805 – April 16, 1859

☻ He was an Aristocratic Frenchman

☻ 1831 French government overthrown, new government put in place: Louis Philippe

☻ Tocqueville didn’t trust new government and wanted to go to America

☻ His excuse to get out of France was that he was studying the US Prison system

☻ Spent 9 months traveling US

☻ Interviewed presidents, lawyers, and bankers

☻ He wrote Democracy in America : based on his findings and thoughts on America

☻ Wrote The U.S. Penitentiary System and its Application in France

☻ Influenced the prison reform in Europe

Anti-slaver MovementAnti-slaver Movement

William Lloyd Garrison• 1805- 1879

• At the age of 13 Garrison became a writer

• Switched from colonization view point to abolition view point

•Was known as the voice of the abolition movement because of his publication, The Liberator

"I am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD"

• Garrison was not interested in compromise

Garrison Cont’d• In 1832 he helped organize the New

England Anti-Slavery Society and the following year he helped organize the American Anti-Slavery Society

• In 1840 a major rift in society resulted in the formation of 2 new societies

- The Liberty party

- The American and Foreign Anti- Slavery Society

• Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was a government decree, Garrison supported it wholeheartedly

David Walker• Born on September 28, 1785 and died June 28, 1830.• He was born a free black man because his mother who was once a

slave was freed.• Became an abolitionist, which is someone who wanted to do away with

slavery.• In 1829, Walker wrote his famous pamphlet called, Walker’s Appeal in

Four Articles. • Southern states despised Walker. They put out a reward for his

capture. • Walker’s passing was very mysterious. Many thought he was poisoned,

but it was never proven.

Walker’s Appeal in Four Articles

• This was Walker’s opinion on slavery telling all slaves to turn to violence when trying to gain freedom.

• The pamphlet also warned all slave owners that there would be a bloody overthrow if they did not liberate their slaves.

• The views Walker presented in his 1829 pamphlet influenced the thinking of others and was thought

to be a catalyst for the Nat Turner Rebellion of 1831.

Angelina & Sarah Grimke

• Angelina was born February 20,1805 and Sarah was born November 26, 1792.

• The sisters were Quakers, and advocates of abolitionism and women’s rights.

• In 1819 they moved to Philadelphia to join Society of Friends

• Angelina published a letter against slavery in 1835; in the newspaper The Liberator

• The sisters moved to New York, and became the first lecture of the Anti-Slavery Society

Angelina & Sarah Grimke

• Sarah Grimke wrote in a lecture “to rise from that degradation and bondage to which the faculties of our minds have been prevented from expanding to their full growth and are sometimes wholly crushed.”

• In 1838, Angelina married Anti-slavery campaigner Theodore Weld

• The sisters opened a progressiveschool in the Raritan Bay, NewYork• During the Civil War, Angelinawrote a letter of support to Lincoln

Frederick Douglass

-born a slave-taught himself how to read- worked for everything he received-insightful young man, always longing for more

1. Douglass, without any formal education, gained a reputation for his speaking skills and was known for his speaking out against slavery.

2. He enlisted black troops for the Union cause and spoke on behalf of women's rights. He was present at the first national women's congress held at Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848.

3. He led a distinguished life as a newspaper publisher, a United States marshal and recorder of deeds, and consul-general to the Republic of Haiti.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

Charles Grandison Finney

Life: 1792-1875

•A clergyman, revivalist, and educator

•Studied law for several years in his life until a conversion experience.

•Used several new techniques called “New Measures”

Charles Grandison Finney (2)

• Some practices were seen as controversial and questionable (Ex: Women praying out loud in a multi-gender crowd)

• Was against discrimination• Became a theology professor at Oberlin

College, and later president• Was Presbyterian, but changed to

Congregationalism

Nat TurnerNat TurnerBorn on October 2, 1800.

He believed that he was chosen by God to lead the slaves frombondage.

He also believed in hearing divine voices telling him to lead the slaves.

Turner saw the eclipse of 1831 as a sign to start a rebellion.

The Slave RebellionThe Slave Rebellion

Turner gathered followers in Southampton, Virginia, on Turner gathered followers in Southampton, Virginia, on August 21, 1831.August 21, 1831.

Was joined by six other slaves to murder the Travis Was joined by six other slaves to murder the Travis family.family.

Rebellion resulted in the murder of sixty slave owners Rebellion resulted in the murder of sixty slave owners as well as 100 slaves and even harsher laws against as well as 100 slaves and even harsher laws against slaves.slaves.

Turner managed to hide for six weeks until he was Turner managed to hide for six weeks until he was discovered and later executed in Jerusalem, Virginia.discovered and later executed in Jerusalem, Virginia.

Horace Greeley• Started the New York

Tribune in 1841, which made him a major influence in national debate

• Supported the Whig Party- supporters of the American System

• Known for writing and campaigning against slavery, monopolies, and capital punishments

Horace Greeley

• Great reformer and idealist• One of the founders of the

Republican party in 1856, and later the Liberal Republican party

• Received presidential nomination from the Liberal Republican and Democratic parties in 1872

Reforming Society

•Born April 4th, 1802•She left her home at the age of 12•In 1821 she opened a school for girls in Boston•In January 1843 she submitted to the Massachusetts legislature a detailed report of her thoroughly documented findings of the Institutions behaviors towards the mentally ill•Helping to pass a bill for the enlargement of the Worcester Insane Asylum•In the next 40 years Dix inspired legislators in 15 U.S. states and in Canada to establish state hospitals for the mentally ill

•In 1861 she was appointed superintendent of army nurses for Civil War service

Noah Webster

• Born 16 October 1758

• Writer and educator “Father of American Scholarship and Education” by Americanizing the English language

• Went to Yale when he was 16

• His years at Yale coincided with the Revolutionary War.

• In order to earn a living, Noah taught school after graduating.

• Thought Americans should learn from American books so wrote his own textbook: A Grammatical Institute of the English Language.

Noah Webster• Wrote the first American dictionary because

Americans in different parts of the country spelled, pronounced and used words differently.

• He thought that all Americans should speak the same way.

• "color" instead of the English "colour”

• "music" instead " of "musick".

• Added American words that weren't in English dictionaries: "skunk”

• When finished in 1828, at the age of 70, the dictionary had 70,000 words in it.

• Other things include: worked for copyright laws, wrote textbooks, and edited magazines.

• At the time of his death in 1843 he was considered an American hero.

Horace Mann 5/4/1796 – 8/2/1895

• MS House of Representatives: 1832-1837

• Prominent leader in edu reform.

• Children have right to free learning

6 Main Points

• no longer ignorant public.• education should be paid for, controlled, and sustained by the

public.• this education will be provided in schools that have children from

many different backgrounds.• education non-sectarian.• education taught by the spirit, methods, and discipline of a free

society.• education provided by well-trained, professional teachers.

Women Movements

The Seneca Falls Convention

Started in July 19-20,1848 Founders: Elizabeth Cady and

Lucretia Mott. Reason for starting: because they felt

like "all men and women had been created equal" and deserved equal rights.

Continued. .

Cady didn’t want the rights of voting.

The speech was presented by Lucretia’s husband because no women felt comfortable presenting.

At the closing session, Lucretia Mott won approval of a final resolve "for the overthrowing of the monopoly of the pulpit, and for the securing to woman equal rights with men.” but not the rights for voting.

One of the leading figures in the early women’s movement

Believed that women should have a strong political position in voting

Worked alongside Susan B. Anthony in the late 1840s, to create the “Declaration of Sentiments”

Eventually, established: - Property Rights for women - Equal guardianship of children - Liberalized divorce laws

“There are certain natural rights as inalienable to civilization, as are the rights of air and motion to savage in the wilderness. The Prejudice against color, of which we hear so much, is no stronger than that against sex…The Negro’s skin and the women’s sex are both prima facie evidence that they were intended to be in subjection to the white Saxon man.”

This stated quote derives from her speeches and acknowledges that she is not only fighting for women’s rights, slaves rights, but of equilibrium between us all

During the Civil War, Elizabeth Stanton concentrated on efforts of abolishing slavery

She also had strong opinions upon abortion, stating that children were there to help

•Isabella Baumfree

•1797-1883

•Children: Peter, James, Elizabeth, and Sophia

•"I did not run off, for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right."

•Found religion and began preaching

•Joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry

• Worked with William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass

•The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave

•1854: Delivered her legendary speech Ain’t I a Woman?

•Posthumously honored from 1935-2008

•1981: induction into the national Woman's Hall of Fame

Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906)

• Born in Adams, Massachusetts to a Quaker family

• She attended a boarding school in Philadelphia

• Growing up her family worked for temperance, the anti-slavery movement and signed the Declaration of Sentiments

• Her first public crusade was in New York on behalf of temperance

• She paved the way for the 19th amendment

• Susan died in 1906 of pneumonia and heart failure

Susan’s Accomplishments• Susan dedicated her life to woman’s suffrage

• In 1869 Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton founded the Woman’s Suffrage Association

• In 1872 she was the first person arrested, put on trial and fined for voting

• In 1890 she helped establish the National American Woman’s Suffrage Association, which focused on establishing the 19th amendment

• 14 years after she died the 19th amendment was passed

• She led the only non-violent revolution in Americas history

Amelia BloomerAmelia Bloomer Born in New York in 1818, Died at Council Bluffs in Born in New York in 1818, Died at Council Bluffs in

18941894 In school for 2 yearsIn school for 2 years Writer for her husband’s, Dexter Bloomer, paper Writer for her husband’s, Dexter Bloomer, paper The The

Seneca Falls CourierSeneca Falls Courier Married at age 22, 1840Married at age 22, 1840

In 1849 Amelia published her own newspaper, In 1849 Amelia published her own newspaper, The LilyThe Lily The newspaper discussed what Amelia thought to be women’s The newspaper discussed what Amelia thought to be women’s

issue’sissue’s Traveled the country lecturing groups of men and Traveled the country lecturing groups of men and

womenwomen In the lectures she defended her attire, “bloomers” which In the lectures she defended her attire, “bloomers” which

were long full length pants gathered at the ankles, with a were long full length pants gathered at the ankles, with a short skirt over themshort skirt over them

Amelia’s ViewsAmelia’s Views

Amelia supported women's Amelia supported women's rightsrights She was a part of many active She was a part of many active

groups that supported rights for groups that supported rights for womenwomen

Amelia also supported Amelia also supported prohibitionprohibition

She expressed her views She expressed her views through her writing and through her writing and speeches speeches

Religious Awakening

Joseph Smith

As a 14 year-old, he wondered which religion he should take part in

1823, an angel, Moroni, told him about book of golden plates which he later translated by 1827

Founded the Latter Day Saint movement

Persecution

1831, Smith and his followers moved to Missouri, expelled in 1833

Next, they moved to Northern Missouri which led to their expulsion and Smith imprisoned

Finally they moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith formed a militia and even announced candidacy for president

Smith was murdered while awaiting his trial for his polygamy

Brigham Young (1801-1877)

• 2nd president of the church

• Year president: 1847-1877

• 1830-first came in contact with Mormon teachings

• Thought Joseph Smith was prophet of God

“Mormonism has made me all I am; and the grace, the power, and the wisdom of God will make me all that I ever will be, either in time or in eternity”

Brigham Young• 1835-appointed to the Quorum of 12 apostles• 1838-took charge of Mormon exodus to Illinois• Commited to polygamy, married 55 women• Joseph Smith was assassinated in 1844• 1846-47 led migration west to Rocky Mountains,

founded Salt Lake City• 1850-1857 appointed first territorial governor to

Utah• Good business man, most successful of his time• Tried to protect Mormon practices• 1877-died from appendicitis

The Shakers (1747-late 19th Century)

• United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, or the “Shakers” was a religious group that organized in the 1700s.

• Started by James and Jane Wardley who were influenced by French prophets

• They broke off of the Quaker church • They got their name “Shakers” because

they would “tremble violently” when they were “moved by the spirit”.

• Mother Ann Lee lead a small group of Shakers from Europe to America.

• They were ordinary people who chose to give up their families, property, and worldly ties in order to be closer to God.

• They had individual villages located in NH, NY, OH, and IL. Mother Ann Lee

Shakers• Shakers practiced celibacy, communal life, and confession of sin

• Strongly believed in equality, simplicity, and pacifism. • Men and Women lived in separate houses and did not marry or have

children.• The group consisted of adults and orphans• They focused their attention on high quality crafts and farm produce.

• Always gave to the poor

• There is one Shaker community left as of 2011

IMPORTANCE• Most successful utopian society that has flourished in this country since

before the Revolutionary War.• They challenged the existing social and religious structure and economic

order of the new nation. • Shakers made important contributions to American culture in art, science,

architecture, craftsmanship, business, music, education, government, medicine, agriculture, and commerce.

Founded by George Ripley in April of 1841

Created a utopian microcosm of society

Original Constitution stated goals based on transcendentalism:• Individual freedom• Humane relationships • Harmony• Connection of flesh and spirit

Encouraged manual labor Enjoyment was the most important

pursuit

Eventually adopted beliefs of Fourierism

Three major aspects to economy:• Reuniting social classes• Voluntary system of labor• Agriculture as the principal

industry Worked to end division of educated

and laboring classes Organized as a joint stock company Brook Farm Institute for Agriculture

and Education • New name referred to form of

labor and culture