AP US HISTORYMR. STUBBLEFIELD

Social Reforms and Reformers

Education Reform- 1828/1830’s• Among many efforts to reform education in America, two of these

efforts were most prominent: • 1. Noah Webster’s publication of the first Webster’s Dictionary in

1828, but was titled, American Dictionary of the English Language. This dictionary did something that no other book in American history had done; it provided a standard for the spelling and usage of old and new American words. This dictionary also included words that were strictly words used in America 1.

• 2. William H. McGuffey’s publication of McGuffey’s Readers in the 1830’s. These readers written to help younger students learn to read not only taught reading but simultaneously taught virtuous principles 2.

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Education ReformersWebster

-Family owned Libraries, read more than average child.

-Taught by mother as a child, attended Yale at 15 years old.

-Developed “Reading Lessons” used in 1800s read by millions. Reformed textbooks because of his experiences with their lack of explanation.

-Webster’s Dictionary, originally called. The American Dictionary of the English Language, was named after Webster.

McGuffey

-Family continually moved Westward throughout his childhood.

- Attended Washington College.

-McGuffey’s Readers- Taught Morality and Patriotism. 122 million copies.

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Religious Reform- 1830’s and 1840’s

• The Second Great Awakening was a religious reform in America comprised of many new individual movements and ideas such as:

• 1. The preaching of Charles Grandison Finney. Finney went around the North in 1830 and 1831 preaching against pivotal issues such as alcohol and slavery 2. He is considered to be one of the most influential men involved with the Second Great Awakening.

• 2. The traveling Methodist Minister Peter Cartwright. Cartwright was a preacher who traveled all over the country. His style of preaching was bold and moving, reportedly bringing thousands of people to Christ 2.

• 3. The Mormon religion being founded in the 1830’s. The religion was founded by Joseph Smith. The book of that religion was based off of golden plates that Smith owned which he professed were given to him by an angel 2. Mormonism grew years after this and is still prevalent and growing today.

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Religious ReformersPeter Cartwright-Key contributor Second Great Awakening.-Personally baptized thousands.-”Circuit Rider.” Rode around the frontier teaching and preaching the Bible.Charles Grandison Finney-‘’Greatest of revival preachers.’’-Originally lawyer, developed persuasive skills used in sermons.-Female involvement was encouraged by Finney.-Opposed slavery, alcohol because of their violation of Biblical truth.Joseph Smith-1830s, claimed received “golden plates” Book of Mormon.-Smith murdered, Brigham Young takes control and leads group to Utah.

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Alcohol Reform- 1826

• The Alcohol Reform which began in the 1820’s, was most famous for the American Temperance Society. This society was founded in 1826 in Boston, Massachusetts 2. The society was one of the first organizations opposed of drinking, but led to the formation of thousands of smaller groups 3. As the movement progressed, the societies pushed for total abstinence of all alcoholic drinks, not just “distilled spirits 3.

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Alcohol ReformersNeal Dow-”Father of Prohibition.” “Napolean of Temperance.”-Sponsored Maine Law preventing manufacturing and selling of liquor.-Mayor of Portland, gave him influence when battling for prohibiton.

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Women’s Reform- 1848

• The women’s reform in America was lead by many women such as Catharine Beecher, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These women, along with many others, fought not only for women’s right to vote, but also for other various rights for women. The most notable event in women’s fight for rights was the Seneca Falls Convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York 2. The convention raised awareness of women’s rights, and in the years following women were granted more and more rights 2.

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Women’s ReformersCatherine Beecher-Claimed that Women needed to enter the teaching ministry-Advocated Kindergarten for all children.Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Advocated voting rights for women, out of the norm. -Worked with Susan B. Anthony, desired improvement in women’s rights. Abolitonist.Lucretia Mott-Quaker. Was not recognized at antislavery convention in London. This offended her and propelled her to fight for women’s rights.-Dedicated her life to this fight.

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Literary Reform- 1820’s and 1830’s

• America’s literary reform was not necessarily a reform to promote literature, but to create a form of literature unique to America. James Fenimore Cooper was the first American to write novels that aimed to reform literature. He published novels that were about American history, such as The Spy, a novel published in 1821 that was about the American Revolution 2. Another moment in American history famous for promoting literary reform was Ralph Waldo Emerson’s speech to Harvard in 1837. This speech was titled, “ The American Scholar” and was a plea to the students to make literature that was a style only found in America 2.

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Literary ReformersJames Fenimore Cooper-First American Novelist to gain fame.-The Spy- Widely read story of Revolution.-Last of the Mohicans.Ralph Waldo Emerson-Transcendentalist- born in Boston.-Rejected early faith he had been taught, became writer. -”The American Scholar”- speech at Harvard.-Implored Americans to reject British ideas and “delve into the riches of their own backyards.”

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Works Cited

http://www.britannica.com/

David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey, The American Pageant

http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/noah.htm

http://www.pbs.org

http://www.online-literature.com

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Works Cited

• 1. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/websters-american-dictionary-of-the-english-language-is-printed

• 2. The American Pageant : A History Of the Republic. Thirteenth Edition. Advanced Placement* Edition. David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, Thomas A. Bailey.

• 3. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/The-American-Temperance-Society.html

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