Religion Sparks Reform The Americans, Chapter 8.1, Pages 240-245
The Second Great Awakening Broad Religious Movement Sweeps the United States Post 1790 Common Beliefs Rejected Predestination Anyone can achieve salvation Emphasized Personal Responsibility People can improve Change in Worship Services Emphasis on evangelism Large gatherings (20,000) Preachers very dramatic & emotional Listeners shrieked moaned & fainted
Religion & Reform The convert s duty was to spread the word about personal salvation to others. This religious activism or evangelism was part of an overall era of reform that started in the 1830s. Reforms of the period included women s rights, school reform, and abolition (the movement to outlaw slavery). All of these movements emerged as responses to rapid changes in American society such as early industrial growth, increasing migration and immigration, and new means of communication. ~The Americans, page 240.
Revivalism Aspects of a Revival Emotional Designed to awaken religious faith Impassioned preaching & prayer Duration of 4-5 days Intense Bible study New York Revivalism Heartland of Revivalism Charles Finney The father of Modern Revivalism Impact of Revivalism 1800 only 1 in 15 Americans belonged to a church; 1850: 1 in 6
The African-American Church New Baptist & Methodist Churches Democratic impulse African Americans interpreted the Christian message as a promise of freedom Camp meetings open to all races Segregated in separate pews But sang the same hymns and listened to the same service Richard Allen Founded African Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia) Provided a strong sense of community and deep inner faith Inspired congregation to strengthen faith and fight against Slavery Organized the first black national convention 1830 Became an annual convention for free blacks
Transcendentalism and Reforms Many reform-minded individuals sought an alternative to traditional religion but found revivalism too public a forum for religious expression. ~The Americans, page 242.
Transcendentalism Transcendental Fundamentals Philosophical & literary movement Emphasized simple life Truth in nature Personal emotion & Imagination Ralph Waldo Emerson New England Writer Father of Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau Idea of self-reliance Walden (1854) Civil Disobedience Peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws
Unitarianism Beliefs Reason rather than emotion Appeal to conscience Conversion a gradual process Following Wealthy & educated New England Common ground with Revivalists Individual reform possible Perfection of human nature Elevation into a nobler being Social reform important & necessary
Americans Form Ideal Communities Utopian Communities Attempts to create an ideal society Stressed self-sufficiency New Harmony Indiana (Robert Owen) George Ripley Establishes community of Brooke Farm Near Boston Society of liberal, intelligent, cultivated persons Wholesome & simple life Fire causes community to disband Failure of Utopian Communities Most lasted only a few years Does not lessen zeal of reformers
Shaker Communities Non-religious Utopian Community Founded by Ann Lee, New York & new England Beliefs Pacifists Shared goods Equality of men & women Vowed not to marry or have children Rely on converts Population 6,000 in 1840s Only 7 in 1999
Schools and Prisons Undergo Reform By the mid-19 th century, thousands of Americans holding a variety of philosophical positions had joined together to fight the various social ills that troubled the young nation. Some social reformers focused their attention on schools and other institutions. ~The Americans, page 244.
Reforming Asylums and Prisons American prisons in 1831 Prisoners physically punished Isolated for long periods of time Focus on punishment, not reform Dorothea Dix Horrified because jails housed the mentally ill Sends law to MA legislature 1843 1845-1852 Nine Southern States set up hospitals for mentally ill Goal of rehabilitation
Improving Education Early Schools (pre-1830s) No uniform educational policy Only MA & Vermont had compulsory school attendance laws No divisions by grade Few students in school beyond age of 10 Public School Systems Emerge PA establishes public school system in 1834 Resistance from wealthy & German immigrants Horace Mann (Massachusetts) Education necessary aspect of citizenships 1837 Becomes secretary of Massachusetts board of education Establishes teacher training programs Curriculum development Doubles money spent on education