Chapter 10: Making of Middle-Class America

Tocqueville and Beaumount in America

• Alexis de Tocqueville + Gustave de Beaumount arrive in the USA as French aristocrats to study the republic

• “Democracy In America” best primary document from 19th century

• They Were witnesses of the European transition from aristocracy to democracy

Toqueville in Judgement

• The Use of equality impressed Toquevillie, not everyone was equal but more equal than anywhere else

• Jacksonian Reflection “ Wealth Was in Reach of All”

• Toquevillie generalized the society as one large middle class

A Restless People

• Population doubled every 22 years in USA• New States added including Wisconsin 1848• A move to the Western areas were beginning

to occur.

Off to Work

• 1820 3 out of 4 worked in agriculture, 1850 fewer than 2 out of 3

• The age of non-agricultural pursuits began to arise

• With Embargo of 1807 and War of 1812 more artisans and Apprentices

• Business Scaled districts were started before 1850 in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia

Family Recast

• Money makers of families began to work in factories whether blue or white collar, 6 days a week

• Women now more focused on the home instead of agricultural duties

The Second Great Awakening

• Dismissal of Calvinist Views of damnation• Charles Finney, Leader of the Great Awakening

in 1821 attacked Calvinism, and increased number of newengland churches

• Emphasised the Christian education of children

• Two Key contributions- 1) Transcendentalism 2) Charity, good works, and conversion

The Era of Associations

• Combating evil- By Promoting God • Promotion by the American Board of Foreign

Missions

Backwoods Utopias

• Pennsylvanian German group led by George Rapp.• Rappites founded in 1804 interpreted the bible,

and believed the millennium was at hand• Shakers, 1770 practiced celibacy • Until 1879, the Oneida Community by Humphrey

Noyes practiced polygamy and polyandry• Mormon Community started by Joseph Smith,

example Bringham Young

Age of Reform

• Motivaed to sure to help those that were ill, Thomas Gallaudet worked with the deaf and creating schools

• Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe worked with the blind • David J Rothman created asylums to assist the ill• Dortheia Dix Worked with the mentally insane,

supported by the pope and Queen Victoria she Traveled for 30 years to start her reform

Demon Rum

• Alcohol played a large role in society since all ages were allowed to consume

• Alcoholism wasn’t truly considered dangerous• Consumption of 5 gallons of alcohol per capita• 1826, American Temperance Union supported

the fight against alcohol• Maine was first to assume the Prohibition in

1851

The Abolitionist Crusades

• Abolitionists were perfectionists in 1820 including John Adams, who supported the humane treatment of slaves

• William Lioyd Garrison pressed for emancipation but complete equallity

• Fredrick Douglas and educated slave and supported many anti-slavery societies

Womens Rights

• Abby Kelly felt that women felt that oppression was worst than slavery

• Women could not- vote, own property, sign a will or legal nonentity