Jacksonian ReformsJacksonian ReformsJacksonian ReformsJacksonian Reforms

AntebellumAntebellumRevivalismRevivalism

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AntebellumAntebellumRevivalismRevivalism

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In France, I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom pursuing courses diametrically opposed to each other; but in America, I found that they were intimately united, and that they reigned in common over the same country… Religion was the foremost of the political institutions of the United States.

-- Alexis de Tocqueville, 1832

The Rise ofPopular Religion

The Rise ofPopular Religion

The Second GreatAwakening

The Second GreatAwakening

“Spiritual Reform From Within”[Religious Revivalism]

Social Reforms & Redefining the Ideal of Equality

Temperance

Asylum &Penal Reform

Education

Women’s Rights

Abolitionism

Kicks off the Pursuit of Perfection in America!

Where did the movement begin?Where did the movement begin?

The “Burned-Over” DistrictUpstate New York

The “Burned-Over” DistrictUpstate New York

Many NE Puritans had settled thereMany NE Puritans had settled there

Second Great AwakeningRevival Meeting

Second Great AwakeningRevival Meeting

Spread to the masses on the frontier by multi-day camp meetingsSpread to the masses on the frontier by multi-day camp meetings

The ranges of tents, the fires, reflecting light…; the candles and lamps illuminating the encampment; hundreds moving to and fro…;the preaching, praying, singing, and shouting,… like the sound of many waters, was enough to swallow up all the powers of contemplation.

Charles G. Finney(1792 – 1895)

Charles G. Finney(1792 – 1895)

““Soul-shaking” Soul-shaking”

conversion!conversion!

2nd Great Awakening led to the feminization of religion – women make up majority of Church membership and move into charity work in the reform movements it sparked.

2nd Great Awakening led to the feminization of religion – women make up majority of Church membership and move into charity work in the reform movements it sparked.

The Mormons(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

The Mormons(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Joseph Smith (1805-1844)

1823 Golden Tablets

1830 Book of Mormon

1844 Murdered in Carthage, IL

Why?

Violence Against MormonsViolence Against Mormons

Why were the Mormons persecuted?Why were the Mormons persecuted?

The Mormon “Trek”The Mormon “Trek”

Why Utah?Why Utah?

The MormonsThe Mormons Led by Brigham

Young

Salt Lake City, Utah

Frontier theocracy

Later flouted what laws in UT?

Brigham YoungBrigham Young(1801-1877)

Mother Ann Lee (1736-84)Mother Ann Lee (1736-84)

“If you will take up your crosses against the works of generations, and follow Christ in theregeneration, God will cleanse you from allunrighteousness.

If you improve in one talent, God will give you more.”

The Shakers

God is dual sided – Christ is male side / Mother Ann Lee is female side

Shaker MeetingShaker MeetingShaker MeetingShaker Meeting

Religious fervor is sign of inspiration from God!

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'Tis the gift to be free,'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,And when we find ourselves in the place just right,'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gainedTo bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,To turn, turn will be our delight,'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

• Men / women equal spiritually• Celibacy

• So how did they survive so long?

• Longest lasting sect – until 1940…….

Shaker BeliefsShaker BeliefsShaker BeliefsShaker Beliefs

Shaker Simplicity & UtilityShaker Simplicity & Utility

Utopian CommunitiesUtopian Communities

Robert OwenRobert Owen

(1771-1858)(1771-1858)

Robert OwenRobert Owen

(1771-1858)(1771-1858)

Utopian Socialist

• New Harmony - “Village of Cooperation”New Harmony - “Village of Cooperation”

• To be a model of the "New Moral World" To be a model of the "New Moral World"

• But will dissolve in less than 3 years.But will dissolve in less than 3 years.

Original Plans for New Harmony, INOriginal Plans for New Harmony, IN

Believed an individual's character was Believed an individual's character was shaped by his or her environment, shaped by his or her environment, therefore, by controlling the therefore, by controlling the environment, superior character could environment, superior character could be developed.be developed.

New Harmony, INNew Harmony, IN

First American First American kindergarten and free kindergarten and free public schoolpublic school

BROOK FARMWest Roxbury, MA 1841

George Ripley (1802-1880)

George Ripley (1802-1880)

“Plain Living & High Thinking”

Transcendentalists

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a resident; eventually it burns down.

The Oneida CommunityNew York, 1848

The Oneida CommunityNew York, 1848

John Humphrey Noyes(1811-1886)

Millenarianism --> the 2nd

coming of Christ had already occurred.

Humans were no longer obliged to follow the moral rules of the past.

All residents married to each other

Carefully regulated free love

Silver plate, steel traps

The Oneida CommunityThe Oneida Community• Birth control, eugenic Birth control, eugenic

selection of parents, selection of parents, communal care of communal care of childrenchildren

• Noyes had to flee to Noyes had to flee to Canada to escape Canada to escape prosecution for adulteryprosecution for adultery

• Survive for 30 years Survive for 30 years (silverware!) and then (silverware!) and then change in 1880 – no change in 1880 – no more communism / more communism / became monogamousbecame monogamous

Temperance MovementTemperance MovementTemperance MovementTemperance Movement

Frances WillardLyman Beecher & the

Beecher Family

1826 - American Temperance Society“Demon Rum”!

Annual Consumption of Alcohol

Annual Consumption of Alcohol

“The Drunkard’s Progress”“The Drunkard’s Progress”

From the first glass to the grave, 1846

What social problems were attributed to alcohol?What social problems were attributed to alcohol?

NEAL DOW

■ Father of Prohibition

■ MAINE LAW, 1851– First U.S. Law to ban the manufacture and

sale of alcohol.

■ Temperance is the most widely supported, least sectional and most successful of all the reform movements

■ What groups will be most resistant?

“Father of American Education”

Horace Mann (1796-1859)Horace Mann (1796-1859)

Children were clay in the hands Children were clay in the hands of teachers and school officials of teachers and school officials

Children should be “molded” Children should be “molded” into a state of perfection into a state of perfection

Discouraged corporal punishmentDiscouraged corporal punishment

Established state teacher- training schools (“normal schools”)

Educational ReformEducational ReformEducational ReformEducational ReformReligious Training Secular EducationReligious Training Secular Education

• More people have right to vote, so more need for More people have right to vote, so more need for educationeducation

• Also, many immigrants to be Americanized!Also, many immigrants to be Americanized!• MA MA – 1– 1stst state to establish free public education – state to establish free public education –

tax supportedtax supported• However, many communities unwilling to tax to However, many communities unwilling to tax to

raise the $ neededraise the $ needed• Lots of private, religious schools - did not want to Lots of private, religious schools - did not want to

pay taxes to support public onespay taxes to support public ones• By 1850 – free public ed. in most of North; even By 1850 – free public ed. in most of North; even

some high schoolssome high schools• Better teacher trainingBetter teacher training• Mostly women as teachers – Mostly women as teachers – CATHERINE CATHERINE

BEECHER;BEECHER; didn’t have to pay them as much as men didn’t have to pay them as much as men

The McGuffey Eclectic The McGuffey Eclectic

ReadersReaders

The McGuffey Eclectic The McGuffey Eclectic

ReadersReaders

Used religious parables to teach “American values.”

Teach middle class morality and respect for order.

Teach “3 Rs” + “Protestant ethic”(frugality, hard work, sobriety)

Noah WebsterNoah Webster

■ ““American American Spelling Book”Spelling Book”

■ Encouraged Americans Encouraged Americans to respect their own to respect their own literatureliterature

■ Later, dictionariesLater, dictionaries

Dorothea DixDorothea DixDorothea DixDorothea Dix Penitentiary Reform Penitentiary Reform

• Prisons are an American Prisons are an American creationcreation

• Reformers hope to help Reformers hope to help prisoners “repent” & learn to prisoners “repent” & learn to lead normal lives, reflect on lead normal lives, reflect on sins, become better citizenssins, become better citizens

• Horrid conditions existed; sane Horrid conditions existed; sane & insane together& insane together

• DOROTHEA DIX gets prison DOROTHEA DIX gets prison reforms & gets insane out of reforms & gets insane out of prisons; prisons; mental asylums mental asylums establishedestablished

• Will be appointed as Will be appointed as Superintendent of Nurses for Superintendent of Nurses for Union forces in Civil War

Dorothea Dix Asylum - 1849

Dorothea Dix Asylum - 1849

TWO TYPES OF TWO TYPES OF PRISONS DEVELOP:PRISONS DEVELOP:

• Auburn SystemAuburn System• First in 1821, Auburn, First in 1821, Auburn,

NYNY• Congregate systemCongregate system• Congregate work by Congregate work by

day BUT in total silenceday BUT in total silence• Solitary at nightSolitary at night

■ Pennsylvania SystemPennsylvania System

■ Individual system

■ Isolates inmate for entire stay

■ Blindfolded on admittance, etc.

■ Overcrowding a problem

Early 19Early 19thth Century Century Women –Rights?Women –Rights?Early 19Early 19thth Century Century Women –Rights?Women –Rights?

• Unable to vote• Legal status of a minor.• Single could own her own property.• Married no control over her

property or her children.• Could not initiate divorce.• Couldn’t make wills, sign a contract,

or bring suit in court without her husband’s permission.

““Separate Spheres & the Separate Spheres & the “Cult of Domesticity”“Cult of Domesticity”

““Separate Spheres & the Separate Spheres & the “Cult of Domesticity”“Cult of Domesticity”

• Separate spheres: men off to work to Separate spheres: men off to work to support family, woman’s place is in the support family, woman’s place is in the homehome to be a refuge from the cruel world to be a refuge from the cruel world

outsideoutside Her role was to “civilize” her Her role was to “civilize” her

husband and family – had great husband and family – had great moral power.moral power.

Seen as physically/emotionally Seen as physically/emotionally weak….but also as artistic and weak….but also as artistic and refined.refined.

• Popularized in newspapers, magazines, Popularized in newspapers, magazines, etc.etc.

What It Would Be Like If Ladies Had Their Own Way!

What It Would Be Like If Ladies Had Their Own Way!

Cult of Domesticity = Slavery

Cult of Domesticity = Slavery

The 2nd Great Awakening inspired women to improve society – many began with abolitionism!

Angelina & Sarah GrimkeAngelina & Sarah Grimke

Lucy StoneLucy Stone

American Women’s Suffrage Assoc.

Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights1840 split in the abolitionist movement over women’s role in it.

London World Anti-Slavery ConventionWorld Anti-Slavery Convention

Lucretia Mott,a Quaker

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

1848 Seneca Falls Declaration of SentimentsSeneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments

Susan B. Anthony

Seneca Falls Convention, 1848

Seneca Falls Convention, 1848

What did the Declaration of Sentiments call for?Who attended?

What did the Declaration of Sentiments call for?Who attended?

Landsdowne PortraitGeorge Washington,1796

Portrait of George Washington, 1796

ArtisticAchievementsGilbert Stuart, an AMERICAN painter

Charles Wilson PealePortraits of Washington

■ Hudson River School of Art

– Romantic, grandiose AMERICAN landscapes

■ Thomas Cole, The Oxbow - 1836

ROMANTICISM IN ARTAND LITERATURE

TranscendentalismTranscendentalismTranscendentalismTranscendentalism Individualism in religion!

Man can be liberated from understandingunderstanding and the cultivation of reasoningreasoning.”

TRUTH “TRANSCENDS” THE SENSES!

Man can “transcend” the limits of intellect and allow the emotions, the SOULSOUL, to create an original relationship with the divine.

■ We should live close to nature, for it is our greatest teacher.

■ People are at their best when they are self-reliant and independent.

■ Society and social institutions such as organized religion and political parties corrupt the purity of individuals.

■ God is everywhere and in everything, so there is no need for specific religions or churches.

■ Man is divine: Since Nature is divine, and we are literally creatures of Nature, we are also divine. Therefore, we have a direct relationship with God. In a sense, we are God or particles of God.

■ The vast majority of transcendentalists were nonconformists and eccentrics

Transcendentalists believed in the interconnectedness of all living things.

NATURE

Transcendentalist LeadersTranscendentalist Leaders

Intellectuals/WritersIntellectuals/WritersConcord, MAConcord, MA

Transcendentalist LeadersTranscendentalist Leaders

Intellectuals/WritersIntellectuals/WritersConcord, MAConcord, MA

Ralph WaldoEmerson

Ralph WaldoEmerson

Henry DavidThoreau

Henry DavidThoreau

Nature(1832)

Walden(1854)

Essay on Civil Disobedience

(1849)

Self-Reliance (1841)

“The American Scholar”

(1837)

TheTheTranscendentalistTranscendentalist

AgendaAgenda

TheTheTranscendentalistTranscendentalist

AgendaAgenda

■Give freedom to the slave

■Give well-being to the poor and the miserable.

■Give learning to the ignorant.

■Give peace and justice to society.

-Their pursuit of the ideal led to a distorted view of humannature and possibilities: * The Blithedale Romance

A Transcendentalist Critic:Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

A Transcendentalist Critic:Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

-One should accept the world as an imperfect place: * Scarlet Letter * House of the Seven Gables

Hawthorne also held minor political Hawthorne also held minor political offices under Van Buren, Polk, Pierceoffices under Van Buren, Polk, Pierce

Overview of Period Authors:Overview of Period Authors:

■ Pessimists - a dark view of human nature:

■ Edgar Allen PoeEdgar Allen Poe– Short story– Terror, darkness– The Raven

■ Herman MelvilleHerman Melville– Human psychology & struggles– Moby Dick

■ Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne– Also focused on human struggles– Fascination with New England

Puritans– The Scarlett Letter

■ James Fennimore CooperJames Fennimore Cooper– American themes– Leatherstocking Tales

■ Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman– Rambling, free-verse poetry– Leaves of Grass

■ Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson– Evolved the essay

■ Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau– Activity in nature– Walden

THE END OF THE AGE THE END OF THE AGE OF REFORM?OF REFORM?

Caused by westward territorial expansion which brings what issue to the forefront and takes over politics?SLAVERY!SLAVERY!