Antebellum Reform Movements A New Wave of Reform Before the Civil War

Reasons for Reform  Similar to reasons for Cult of True Womanhood  Fear of rapid change (urbanization, industrialization, immigration…)  Desire to return to a less materialistic (money and “thing” centered) lifestyle  Religious fervor  Similar to reasons for Cult of True Womanhood  Fear of rapid change (urbanization, industrialization, immigration…)  Desire to return to a less materialistic (money and “thing” centered) lifestyle  Religious fervor

Second Great Awakening  Renewed interest in religion  Traveling (itinerant) preachers  Religious revivals  Focus on emotion  Idea that anyone could be saved, anyone could preach  Participation of many social groups (African- Americans, women, slaves, etc.)  Renewed interest in religion  Traveling (itinerant) preachers  Religious revivals  Focus on emotion  Idea that anyone could be saved, anyone could preach  Participation of many social groups (African- Americans, women, slaves, etc.)

Religious Utopian Societies  Utopia- a community designed to create a perfect society  Often wanted to bring the kingdom of heaven into reality on earth  Shakers- stressed simple, communal lifestyle (shared everything), equality, celibacy (What could be 1 problem with this?)  Mormons- founded by Joseph Smith, practiced plural marriage, mob in Carthage, IL. killed Smith in  Moved west under Brigham Young to Great Salt Lake Valley  Utopia- a community designed to create a perfect society  Often wanted to bring the kingdom of heaven into reality on earth  Shakers- stressed simple, communal lifestyle (shared everything), equality, celibacy (What could be 1 problem with this?)  Mormons- founded by Joseph Smith, practiced plural marriage, mob in Carthage, IL. killed Smith in  Moved west under Brigham Young to Great Salt Lake Valley

Oneida in New York  Founded by John Humphrey Noyes  Believed in equality of men and women  Practices –Complex marriage and communal child-rearing –Birth control through male continence & ascending fellowship (older people with younger) –Stirpiculture- selective breeding to produce “better” offspring  How might this have been liberating for women? How might it have been oppressive? Downfall?  Founded by John Humphrey Noyes  Believed in equality of men and women  Practices –Complex marriage and communal child-rearing –Birth control through male continence & ascending fellowship (older people with younger) –Stirpiculture- selective breeding to produce “better” offspring  How might this have been liberating for women? How might it have been oppressive? Downfall?

Transcendentalists  Romantic movement, early 1800’s  Emphasized importance of individual, natural simplicity, spiritual renewal  Belief that people could transcend (rise above) material things in life  Emerson- Self Reliance  Henry David Thoreau- Walden (about his time living in the woods, getting away from technology, big cities), Civil Disobedience  Some to Brook Farm (utopia- shovel manure or read poetry- problem?)  Romantic movement, early 1800’s  Emphasized importance of individual, natural simplicity, spiritual renewal  Belief that people could transcend (rise above) material things in life  Emerson- Self Reliance  Henry David Thoreau- Walden (about his time living in the woods, getting away from technology, big cities), Civil Disobedience  Some to Brook Farm (utopia- shovel manure or read poetry- problem?)

Poem of Emily Dickinson “Some keep the Sabbath going to church; I keep it staying at home, With a bobolink for a chorister, And an orchard for a dome.” How does this reflect the themes of transcendentalists? “Some keep the Sabbath going to church; I keep it staying at home, With a bobolink for a chorister, And an orchard for a dome.” How does this reflect the themes of transcendentalists?

Other Reform Movements  Temperance (persuade people to temper or limit alcohol consumption)  Education- Horace Mann, common schools, uniform curriculum & teacher training, bigger impact in the North.  Mentally ill- Dorothea Dix; advocated better treatment, separation of criminals, mentally ill  Prisons- try to rehabilitate, penitentiary new institution  Temperance (persuade people to temper or limit alcohol consumption)  Education- Horace Mann, common schools, uniform curriculum & teacher training, bigger impact in the North.  Mentally ill- Dorothea Dix; advocated better treatment, separation of criminals, mentally ill  Prisons- try to rehabilitate, penitentiary new institution

Source: ek.com/09Cartoon /BrowseByDateCa rtoon.asp?Month= March&Date=21 “The Bar of Destruction” Thomas Nast Original Date: March 21, 1874

Women’s crusade cartoon Woman as Joan of Arc Battling “demon rum” March 7, 1874

Caption: "Get Thee Behind Me, (Mrs.) Satan!” Wife (with heavy burden). "I'd rather travel the hardest path of matrimony than follow your footsteps." Satan: Victoria Woodhull, an advocate of women’s rights and free love, who ran for President in Date: February 17, 1872 Source: artoon.asp?Month=February&Date=17