THE FERMENT OF REFORM AND CULTURE Chapter 12 AP US History
LEARNING GOALS: Students will be able to: Explain how the democratization of American politics contributed to the rise of Andrew Jackson. Evaluate how Jackson s policies and the Panic of 1837 helped launch and solidify the Whig Party? Identify the new assumptions about human nature that influenced the religious movements of this era. Analyze how the reform movements of this era aimed at making Americans more free and more orderly.
THE RISE OF POPULAR RELIGION Democracy in America Written by Alexis de Tocqueville Contrasted France and the United States What conclusions does he draw? WHY? What are some examples of the sorts of organizations that Tocqueville would have viewed as public associations in civil life? What did Tocqueville mean when he said that in democratic nations all citizens are independent and feeble?
What is the state of American religion in the early 18 th Century? 75% of the 23 million Americans attended church regularly. Many church-goers had become more liberal in their thinking. Rationalist (Enlightenment) ideas of the French Revolution era had softened the older orthodoxy. Deism prompted by Thomas Paine influenced Jefferson, Franklin, and others (rooted in the spirit of the Enlightenment) Relied on reason rather than revelation; on science rather than the Bible. Rejected concept of original sin and denied Christ s divinity. Believed in a Supreme Being who created a knowable universe and endowed human beings with a capacity for moral behavior. Deism inspired an important spin-off from severe Puritanism Unitarianism. God exists in only one person and not the orthodox Trinity. Stressed essential goodness of human nature rather than evil nature. Free will and salvation through good works. God a loving Father, not a stern creator.
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING What is the impact of the Second Great Awakening? This was a reaction against growing Liberalism (Deism, Unitarianism) in religion around 1800. Began on the Southern frontier but soon spread to northeastern cities. One of the most momentous episodes in the history of American religion. Influenced more people than the First Great Awakening. Effects: Converted countless souls Shattered and reorganized churches and new sects. Fostered new reform movements: Prison reform, temperance, women s movement, and abolition. Spread to the masses on the frontier via camp meetings As many as 25,000 persons gathered for several days to hear hellfire gospel. Methodists and Baptists benefitted most from revivalism
What does this graph reveal about the impact of the Second Great Awakening? In what ways did Methodists and Baptists benefit? Both sects stressed personal conversion (contrary to Predestination). Relatively democratic control of church affairs. Emotionalism Who were some of the major figures? Peter Cartwright best known Methodist circuit rider (traveling preacher) Charles Grandison Finney (the greatest of revival preachers) Believed in earthly perfectionism (Puritan thought) Inspired major reform movements: education, temperance, and abolitionism
In what ways do historians note denominational diversity? Burned-Over Districts : (western New York) many New England Puritans had settled there and the region became known for its hellfire and damnation sermons Fragmentation occurred in these districts. Adventists: (Millerites) grew to several hundred thousand adherents. Led by William Miller: interpreted the Bible to mean that Christ would return on Oct. 22, 1844. Failure of Christ to appear dampened but did not destroy this movement. Wealthier and more educated levels of society were not as affected by revivalism: Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Unitarians. The less prosperous and less learned communities in the rural South and West were the most impacted by this movement. The slavery issue split Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians along sectional lines (foreshadowing secession of the Southern states).
What about the Mormon movement? Joseph Smith founded the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) in 1830 and wrote the Book of Mormon after having experienced a revelation. The Church of Latter Day Saints was founded in Burned-Over Districts Mormons became persecuted in Ohio, then in Missouri and Illinois. Cooperative nature of the sect offended individualistic Americans. Accusations of polygamy, especially Joseph Smith, increased opposition. In1844, Joseph Smith and his brother were killed by a mob in Illinois. Brigham Young led the Mormons to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1846-1947 This community became a prosperous frontier theocracy and a cooperative commonwealth. They used ingenious irrigation methods to cultivate the semi-arid regions of Utah. The Federal Army marched against the Mormons in 1857 crisis ended without serious bloodshed. Mormons later flouted anti-polygamy laws passed by Congress in 1862 & 1882 Statehood for Utah would be delayed because of polygamy!
THE AGE OF REFORM Most of the reform movements were driven by evangelical religion (Second Great Awakening)! Many of these modern idealists dreamed anew the old Puritan vision of a perfected society. Many desired to reaffirm traditional values as society plunged into a more complex world of transforming market economies. Women particularly prominent in reform crusades especially in their struggle for suffrage. Reform movements offered many middle-class women opportunities to escape the confines of home and enter public affairs. Voluntar y associations were for m ed to im prove society Abolition of slavery Women s rights Temperance Ending warfare Humane treatment of criminals & the mentally ill Public education Social problems were actually clashes between GOOD and EVIL!
THE WAR ON LIQUOR Why temperance? Alcohol abuse was rampant in 19 th Century America! Abusers included women, clergymen, and members of Congress. Decreased the efficiency of labor while increasing workplace injuries. American Tem perance Society Formed in Boston (1826) - followed Lyman Beecher s leadings 1 st national temperance organization there had been many previous attempts. Demanded total abstinence Membership was between 30% - 50% women! The movement used moral suasion to encourage taking the abstinence pledge 1840: Baltimore Washington Temperance Society was formed with a women s g roup (Martha Washingtonians). The movement was successful in cutting per capita consumption of alcohol in half between the 1820s and 1840s
WOMEN S RIGHTS The differenced between men and women were increasingly emphasized in the 19 th Century American society as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Burgeoning market separated men and women into sharply distinct economic roles. Women seen to be physically and emotionally weak but also artistic and refined. Republican Motherhood: Women were seen as the keepers of society s conscience with special responsibility to teach children how to be good and productive citizens. Some women wanted to break away from the role of homemaker and participate in the public world of men. Female reformers advocated women s suffrage and other increased rights for women: Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Angelina and Sara Grimke, Lucy Stone, Amelia Bloomer, and Margaret Fuller all challenged the traditional role of women!
SENECA FALLS CONVENTION This is also known as the Women s Rights Convention (1848) Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott 61 women and 34 men attended this meeting. This m eeting produced the Declaration of Sentiments all men and women are created equal. One resolution in the Declaration formally demanded Women s Suffrage! This document/meeting launched the modern woman s rights movement. This document/movement became the object of scorn and was denounced by the press and pulpit. This movement was overshadowed by the events of the era! The slavery issue dominated conversation and politics The Civil War would ensue in the 1860s Women were gradually admitted to colleges while some, beginning in Mississippi (1839) allowed women to own property after marriage.
Activists: Stand/Belief: Outcome: Lucretia Mott Elizabeth Cady Stanton Sarah & Angelina Grimke Sojourner Truth Abolitionists who embraced women s suffrage especially after their experiences in London, 1840 (World s Anti-Slavery Convention). Argued that men & women were CREATED EQUAL! moral and accountable beings. Sarah would continue to argue that what is right for a man is right for a woman. Powerful evangelical preacher who was one of the most influential abolitionists and feminists of the 1860s. Born a slave in New York. Collectively, these women would impact the 19 th and 20 th century movements for Abolition, Temperance, and Suffrage. From the passage of the 13 th Amendment in 1865 to the 19 th Amendment in 1920, women were inspired to continue the fight for suffrage.
PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM Early 19 th Century public schools one room schoolhouse! Schools were financed by the parents Education was BASIC Horace Mann 1 st Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education Felt students needed to be prepared for the ever-growing Industrial economy! How does this happen? State support for education Ten-month school term Standardized textbooks Individualizing student education by grade Compulsory attendance
Noah Webster wrote a dictionary to help standardize American Eng lish. Grammar books and dictionary would be used by millions of children in the 19 th century What do school reformers want to do? Spread industrial values Combat ignorance How do they do this? Teaching student punctuality Stimulating competition among peers Issuing textbooks What was in McGuffey s reader? Grade school readers that were first published in the 1830s 122 million copies sold. Lessons emphasized morality, sobriety, honesty, and patriotism!
Who challenged educational reforms? Farmers satisfied with the status quo & needed the children to help with harvesting and planting of crops Urban Catholics felt that textbooks were anti- Catholic and anti-irish Laboring poor losing child income would destroy the family livelihood How do school reformers win? Opponents failed to unify Enlisting influential allies! Ensuring that industries understood they would receive a greater quality workforce
ABOLITION When do we first see the Antislavery movement emerge in America? During the Revolutionary War! Why does opposition to slavery decline in the 1 st two decades of the 19 th Century? (Good Question!) Does anyone desire to end slavery in the early 19 th century? YES Various abolitionists groups fought to end slavery American abolitionist leaders: William Lloyd Garrison Frederick Douglass William Wells Brown Harriet Tubman Elijah P. Lovejoy Rev. Lyman Beecher