THE FERMENT OF REFORM AND CULTUREChapter 15 1790-1860

I. Reviving Religion Third revolution in antebellum period (political,

economic) was the transformation of American character Reform movements motivated by changes in American

character, economy More educated, upstanding, improve society Promoted new religions, better public schools, rights for

women, abstinence from alcohol and abolition of slavery Drew reforming impulse from religion

Beginning in the 1790’s into early 19th century Second Great Awakening transformed place of religion in US

I. Reviving Religion Most Americans in first half of 19th century

attended church Not old Puritan theology but new rational theology

based on reason and science Many Founding Fathers were supporters of Deism

(Supreme Being endowed humans with capacity for moral behavior, belief in reason not faith)

Deism inspired Unitarianism Unitarianism began in New England end of 1700’s Stressed essential goodness of human nature, not

hellfire doctrine of Calvinism

I. Reviving Religion 1800 new wave of revivals began

on southern and western frontiers, called Second Great Awakening

Converted souls, reorganized churches and spawned numerous new sects

Affected many areas of American life from prison reform, the women’s movement and abolition of slavery

Spread through “camp meetings” that lasted several days

Many saved returned to old ways after meetings over, provided social outlet on lonely frontier

I. Reviving Religion Methodists, Baptists gained most converts,

each sect promoted personal salvation, democratic control over church affairs

Preachers called circuit riders Charles Grandison Finney greatest of

revival preachers, great orator Became president of Oberlin College

(Ohio), hotbed of abolitionism Second G.A. caused feminization of

religion, most ardent supporters of new religions and era’s reforms

Demonstrated ambivalence toward changing world (economic, industrial, market revolutions)

II. Denominational Diversity Revivals caused fragmentation of religions Western New York “Burned Over District”

because so many preachers came and preached hellfire and damnation

1830’s- Millerites (Adventists) came from this region

Leader said Christ would return on a certain date, did not happen

Second G.A. widened lines between classes Prosperous, conservative not affected by

revivalism (Easterners, better educated) Methodists, Baptists form newly

established regions Less educated, less prosperous

Religions split over slavery issues (north and south)

III. A Desert Zion in Utah 1830- Joseph Smith reported he

received golden plates after a visit from an angel

Became Book of Mormon Truly native American religion Opposition to Mormon beliefs, ways

caused group to migrate west Antagonized non-Mormons, voting

as a unit, practicing polygamy, cooperative economic practices

1844 Smith and brother murdered by a mob in Carthage, IL

Leadership of Mormons taken up by Brigham Young

III. A Desert Zion in Utah 1846-1847 Young leads Mormon pioneers to Utah 1848 -5,000 settlers Irrigation, hard work, luck, leadership of Young- community

thrived, became a frontier theocracy Clashed with Washington government, could not control Young 1857 send federal army to allow US appointed judges to serve,

inability to conform to American standards of culture delayed statehood until 1896

IV. Free Schools for Free People Tax supported primary schools for children of the poor, wealthy used

private tutors During first half of 1800’s tax supported schools seen as good for

teaching American ways and democracy Little red schoolhouse became a shrine of democracy School teachers poorly trained, poorly paid Reform brought by Horace Mann, campaigned for better school houses,

better pay, expanded curriculum Noah Webster, wrote school books designed to promote patriotism William McGuffey (McGuffey’s Readers) lessons in patriotism

V. Higher Goals for Higher learning Many small, denominational colleges established

during this period in the South and West First state supported universities established

(University of North Carolina 1795, University of Virginia 1819)

Changes in curriculum from traditional religious training to modern languages and the sciences

Women’s education grew (frowned upon earlier) Oberlin College in Ohio opened doors to women

and blacks Tax supported libraries, magazines, traveling

lecturers expanded zeal for learning to wider audiences

VI. An Age of Reform Reform campaigns inspired by religion

sought to build a more perfect society Appealed to middle class women as a way to

escape home, enter arena of public affairs Reformers wanted to reaffirm traditional

values in a world disrupted and transformed by the changes brought by industrialization

Debtor’s prisons were abolished Criminal punishment was reformed, idea

of prison as place for reform established Treatment of mentally ill, led by Dorthea

Dix Insane Asylums were places of brutal

treatment and she campaigned to make them more humane, idea of mental illness born at this time

VII. Demon Rum-The Old Deluder

Drinking problem attracted attention of nation

Caused decrease in efficiency of labor, higher risk of accidents in new industrial machines

1826- American Temperance Society founded in Boston

Drinkers seen as scourge from Old World

Temperance pledges signed, “Cold Water Army”

Melodramatic books demonstrated evils of alcohol (Ten Nights in a Barroom and What I Saw There-1854)

Alcohol consumption dropped as the century wore on, so the movement worked

VIII. Women in Revolt During antebellum period female reformers became more vocal Women’s place was in the home, could not vote or own property Legally regarded as minors Changing economy separated men and women into different

spheres Women were artistic and refined, keepers of societies conscience Most female reformers were from middle class families, white Began to demand rights for women Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony,

Grimke sisters all fought for women’s rights (many had Quaker backgrounds and were abolitionists)

1848- Seneca Falls Convention Women's Rights Convention, Stanton read “Declaration of

Sentiments”, based on Declaration of Independence, “all men and women created equal”

Things changed for women by the eve of the Civil War some had property rights, beginning to gain admission to colleges- still they could not vote

IX. Wilderness Utopias Over 40 cooperative communities established to

live out the reform minded ideals of the age, most did not last long

Communities promised equality for all members Many were in rural, isolated areas Based on religious ideas and principles Members typically worked common land and

property Many quickly ran into futility and failed, because

after the founder passed away each idealist had their own vision

1825- New Harmony, Indiana established by Robert Owen

1841 Brook Farm, Mass. Based on ideas of transcendentalism

1848- Oneida Community in NY practiced free love, selection of parents for superior offspring

Did better than most, manufactured goods that supported community

Shakers established by Mother Anne Lee, started in 1770’s and grew to almost 6,000 members, known for simple furniture

X. The Dawn of Scientific Achievement Early American inventions centered practical

gadgets, not pure science (plow, mechanical reaper, etc.)

Some scientific talent in America Most notably John J. Audubon, studied birds of

America in detail American medicine primitive and life was short

(avg. 50 years)

XI. Artistic Achievements American architecture copied

European styles Thomas Jefferson was the best

American architect (designed Monticello, Univ. of VA)

Competent painters, Gilbert Sullivan (portraits of Washington), John Trumbull (Revolutionary War scenes)

Hudson River School of painters, romanticized local landscapes (misty, foggy, rainy, man very small)

1840’s Competition for paintings comes from daguerreotype (crude type of photo)

Minstrel show, performers in “black face" became popular forms of entertainment

XII. Blossoming of National Literature

Most influential publications up to this point were political essays (Common Sense, Federalist)

Nationalism and spirit of independence after War of 1812, new group of writers emerged, “Knickerbocker Group”- Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, William Cullen Bryant

American themes of nature, the supernatural and individualism

Novels widely read in Europe, legitimized American literature

Natty Bumppo became the archetype of the American westerner

XIII. Trumpeters of Transcendentalism

Began in New England Release from liberalizing straightjacket of Puritan ideology Reaction to John Locke and that truth is acquired through the senses Each person possesses an inner light or “Oversoul” Beliefs included commitment to self- reliance, fundamental truth came

from experience Rejected authority and conventional wisdom Best known Emerson, Thoreau Thoreau lived in cabin on Walden Pond in Mass. for two years wrote

Walden: Or Life in the Woods about experience Refused to pay poll tax in Mexican-American War, wrote essay On the

Duty of Civil Disobedience Idealistic tract promoting nonviolence Thoreau saw civil disobedience as the right of individuals to refuse to

obey laws they feel are unjust Walt Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass, became poet laureate of

democracy Writings reflected leaving behind Old World, embracing new