1. The Rise of Cultural Nationalism
Ch. 7 Jeffersonian Era

2. The Rise of Cultural Nationalism
Patterns of Education
Republican vision included enlightened citizenry
wanted nationwide system of free public schools to create educated electorate required by republic
By 1815 no state had a comprehensive public school system
schooling primary by private institutions open only to those who could pay.
Most were aristocratic in outlook, trained students to become elite. Few schools for poor
Idea of “republican mother” to train new generation could not be ignorant,
late 18th century women began to have limited education to make them better wives and mothers- no professional training
Attempts to educate “noble savages” in white culture and reform tribes,
African Americans very little schooling- literacy rate very small
Higher education not public
private contribution + tuition necessary,
students mostly from prosperous, propertied families. Little professional education

3. Medicine and Science
Most doctors learned from established practitioners,
struggled w/ introduction of science and combating superstition.
Doctors often used dangerous and useless treatments.
Medical profession used its new “scientific” method to justify expanding control to new care- childbirths by doctor and not midwives

4. Cultural Aspirations in the New Nation
After Eur independence ppl wanted cultural independence, literary and artistic achievements to rival those of Europe
Nationalism could be found in early American schoolbooks,
Noah Webster wanted patriot education-
American Spelling Book and American Dictionary of the English Language established national standard of words and usage,
simplified and Americanized system of spelling created
High literacy rate and large reading public due to wide circulation of newspapers and political pamphlets.
Most printers used cheaper English material, American writers struggled to create strong native literature
Charles Brockden Brown used novels to voice American themes
Washington Irving wrote American fold tales, fables- Rip Van Winkle
Histories that glorified past-
Mercy Otis Warren History of the Revolution 1805 emphasized heroism,
Mason Weems Life of Washington 1806.
History used to instill sense of nationalism

5. Religious Skepticism
Revolution detached churches from govt + elevated liberty and reason,
by 1790s few members of formal churches, some embraced “deism”
Books and articles attacking religious “superstitions” popular, Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason.
Skepticism led to “universalism” + “unitarianism”,
@ first within New England Congregational Church, later separate- rejected predestination, salvation for all, Jesus only great religious teacher not son of God
Spread of rationalism led to less commitment to organized churches + denominations considered too formal and traditional, comeback starting 1801

6. The Second Great Awakening
Origin 1790s from efforts to fight spread of religious rationalism.
Baptists, Presbyterian, Methodists (founded by John Wesley) successful at combating New Light dissenters (ppl who made religion more compatible w/ rationalism)
By 1800 awakening that began at Yale had spread throughout country and to the west, “camp meetings” by evangelical ministers produced religious frenzy
Second Great Awakening called individuals to readmit God + Christ into daily life, reject skeptical rationalism.
New sects rejected predestination, combined piety w/ belief of God as active force whose grace achieved thru faith + works
Accelerated growth of new sects as opposed to return to established churches, provided sense of order + social stability to ppl searching for identity
Women particularly drawn to revivalism b/c women more numerous in certain regions,
movement of industrial work out of home led to personal and social strains that religion was used to compensate for
Revival led to rise of black preachers who interpreted religious message of salvation available to all into right to freedom
Native American dislocation and defeats after Revolution created sense of crisis and led to Indian religious fervor- missionaries active in south led to conversion, in North prophet Handsome Lake encouraged Christian missionaries and restoration of traditional Iroquois culture