Bell Ringer

What problems arose as a result of industrialization in the first half of the 19th century?

BECOMING “BETTER” AMERICANS

Religious, Social, and Moral Reform

RELIGIOUS REVIVAL AND REFORM

Fixing Our Faith

Religious Rebels

Deism : Rejected the divinity of Christ; believed in a Supreme Being who had created a universe and endowed human beings with a capacity for moral behavior Sprung from the ideals of the Enlightenment (reason rather

than faith).  Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin

Unitarianism: Believed that God existed in only one personage (not in the orthodox Trinity).  Believed people were essentially good, not born under

“original sin”, and saved through good works, not faith in Christ.

Appealed to mostly intellectuals (e.g. Ralph Waldo Emerson).

Reviving Religion

Church attendance was still a regular ritual for ¾ of Americans in 1850, the majority belonging to a Christian-Protestant church.

The Second Great Awakening: A religious revival during the 1830s-40s that attempted to appeal to people’s emotions; held the widespread belief that the second coming of Christ was near. Reaction to religious liberalism and industrialization. Spread by “camp meetings” More widely spread than the First Great Awakening, both

geographically and by variety of participants. Encouraged vivacious evangelicalism Led to reform of several areas of life: prison reform,

temperance, abolition, women’s suffrage, etc.

Meet the Preacher

Charles Grandison Finney- considered the greatest of the revivalist preachers. Denounced both alcohol and

slavery “Burned over district”: The

name was inspired by the notion that the area fo Western NY had been so heavily evangelized as to have no "fuel" (unconverted population) left over to "burn" (convert).

Denominational Diversity

The gap between the classes and regions were widened by religion Poor, rural, less-educated, Southern or Western

became Baptist or Methodist Wealthier, urban, more-educated, Eastern

became/stayed Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Unitarians

The issue of slavery split the churches apart.New religious groups evolved to fill in the

gaps left from old churches and ideals left from the First Great Awakening.

THE END IS NEAR!

“Millerites”: Predicted the second coming of Christ would occur on October 22, 1844. When the prophesy failed to materialize, the movement lost credibility.

Those who did not abandon the religion entirely would rebuild and reform it into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Latter Day Saints (AKA: LDS, Mormons)

Founded by Joseph Smith

Ran into trouble with their neighbors Drilled a militia Voted as a block Practiced polygamy

Smith led his followers to Illinois

Joseph Smith was murdered in a skirmish, so Brigham Young took over as leader and led the Mormons to Utah Territory

A Desert Zion

The State of Deseret was propsed in 1849 by Latter-day Saint settlers in Salt Lake City. Was never recognized by the United

States government. Wanted to enter as a free state, but was

delayed over the issue of polygamy. More and more land in the proposed state

was absorbed into other Western States (would have been the largest state in the Union)

Wilderness Utopias

Wilderness Utopias

Utopia: An ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system

Inspired by the book Utopia by Sir Thomas Moore

Many were tied to religion; all were a reaction to the problems created through industrialization.

Rediscovering Eden

The Garden of Eden

New Harmony, Indiana

Wilderness Utopias

The Shakers

United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (AKA: Shakers): religious sect created by Mother Ann Lee Emphasis on social equality

and rejection of sexual relations

Outsiders were invariably impressed by Shaker cleanliness, prosperity, and agriculture. Shakers had a reputation for honesty and their products were the best of their kind.

Social Reform Movements

READIN’ , ‘RITIN, AND ‘RITHMETIC

Educational Reform

Public Education

Free public education was not popular in the early 1800s

Jacksonian Democracy began to change opinions More people could vote, so

children needed education to be knowledgeable voters

Cheaper to educate now than rehabilitate prisoners

Teachers were ill-educated and ill-trained themselves

African Americans were largely ignored

One-room schoolhouse in Idaho

Educational Reformers

Horace Mann – “Father of Public Education” Pushed for free compulsory

education Focus on hands on education,

movement away from “dead languages”, and the 3R’s

Noah Webster’s Blueback Speller and dictionary Most schools had unsatisfactory

textbooks that came from England. Webster thought that Americans should learn from American books

Grammar and moral lessonsWilliam H. McGuffey’s

McGuffey’s Reader Patriotic and moral lessons

Webster’s Blue-Back Speller Questions

1. What level of student do you think this excerpt is appropriate for? Why?

2. How is this reader different from the books you read as a child?

3. What is the overall theme of this excerpt? How does this reflect the time period?

Changes to Higher Education

2nd Great Awakening spawned educational reform Colleges often had traditional

curriculum: Latin, Greek, math, and moral philosophy

Higher education for women had been taboo Were afraid it would corrupt

women, and therefore corrupt children and families

New colleges for women began opening; Mount Holyoke Seminary (1837)

Working class Americans found less formal education in libraries, lyceums (public lectures), and magazines.

BECOMING BETTER AMERICANS

Moral Reform

The Victorian Era

The “Victorian Era” refers to the period of the reign of Queen Victoria.

It was a period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities, and nationalism, that spread far beyond the borders of Great Britain.

The Reform Movement

The reform movement sought to eliminate a multitude of sins: Cruelty, war, alcohol,

discrimination, and slaveryMiddle-Class women

were often the motivation behind these movements

Felt it their duty as rulers of morality in the home to rid society of these vices.

An Age of Reform

States gradually abolished debtors' prisons due to public demand.  Criminal codes and penalties were softened in hopes of reforming the wrong-doer.  The number of capital offenses was being reduced. 

Dorothea Dix

Conducted a statewide investigation of how Massachusetts cared for the insane poor.

The unregulated and underfunded system produced widespread abuse.

“I proceed, Gentlemen, briefly to call your attention to the present state of Insane Persons confined within this Commonwealth, in cages, stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience."

Traveled the country, visiting different asylums; her protests resulted in improved conditions for the mentally ill.

Demon Rum – The “Old Deluder”

Reformers wanted to ban alcohol and end drunkenness.

Reformers were largely women, clergymen, and members of Congress. 

The American Temperance Society was formed in 1826.  Remove the desire to drink

(temperance over teetotalism) Punish those who did drink –

strengthening laws Maine Law of 1851 which prohibited

alcohol's sale or manufacture. Other states followed (though legal battles also followed the laws).

Social Reform

Lives of Women

In the early 19th century, the role of women was to stay at home and be subordinate to her husband.  Women could not vote, and when married she could not retain her property. Some women actually started to avoid marriage and became “spinsters.”

Women in Revolt

Catharine Beecher encouraged women to become teachers (until they married), and advocated the benefits of kindergarten (a German tradition).

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor

Margaret Fuller edited a transcendentalist journal

Grimke sisters pushed for abolition of slavery

Amelia Bloomer wore short skirts

Women in RevoltFeminists met at Seneca Falls, New York in a Woman's Rights Convention in 1848. Led by Susan B. Anthony

and Elizabeth Cady Stanton“The Declaration of

Sentiments” argued that all men and women were created equal

It demanded female suffrage

Women in Revolt

Feminists met at Seneca Falls, New York in a Woman's Rights Convention in 1848. Lucretia Mott, Susan B.

Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

“The Declaration of Sentiments” argued that all men and women were created equal

Declaration of Sentiments Questions

1. What document is this designed after? What elements reveal this similarity?

2. List three examples of tyranny over women described in the document.

3. Describe three of the resolutions presented by the Convention.

4. What is the ultimate goal of this document?

MODERNIZING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science

Dawn of Scientific Achievment

Medicine in America was still primitive by modern standards. 

Used bleeding and purging, with the blacksmith or butcher as doctor or surgeon

Sanitation was lacking Many “cure-alls” that were

mostly alcohol and/or highly addictive narcotics

In the early 1840s, several American doctors and dentists successfully used laughing gas and ether as anesthetics.

John Audubon

An early naturalist who painted birds with precise details

Audubon Society: environmental organization dedicated to conservation that gets its name from the ornithologist

PHILOSOPHY, ART, AND LITERATURE

Defining American Culture

Artistic Achievments

Art Americans had traditionally

followed European styles of art: dark, aristocratic subjects, stormy landscapes)

Between 1820 and 1850, a Greek revival in architecture came to America.; e.g. Monticello

Music Music began to have a truly

American theme Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks At

Home” (AKA: Suwannee River) "Dixie" was the battle hymn of

the Confederates and was written in 1859.

“Way down upon the Swanee River,Far, far away,There's where my heart is turning ever,There's where the old folks stay.All up and down the whole creation,Sadly I roam,Still longing for the old plantation,And for the old folks at home."

Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism: An intellectual movement that argued that knowledge transcends (rises above) just the senses. Associated traits included self-reliance,

self-culture, and self-discipline. People were thought to reach an inner

light and touch the “Oversoul” (something akin to God)

Henry David Thoreau: transcendentalist who believed that one should reduce his bodily wants so as to gain time for a pursuit of truth through study and meditation.  Spent two years living in the woods

living off only what he could produce (“Walden: Or Life in the Woods”).

On the Duty of Civil Disobedience – greatly influenced Gandhi and MLK

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism was a New

England intellectual movement that began to challenge ways of thinking. Knowledge transcends (rises above) just the senses. Associated traits included self-

reliance, self-culture, and self-discipline.

People were thought to reach an inner light and touch the “Oversoul” (something akin to God)

Ralph Waldo Emerson- transcendentalist poet and philosopher; urged American writers to forget European traditions and write about American interests.

Ralph Waldo Emerson“To laugh often and much;To win the respect of intelligent peopleand the affection of children;To earn the appreciation of honest criticsand endure the betrayal of false friends;To appreciate beauty;To find the best in others;To leave the world a bit better,whether bya healthy child, a garden patchor a redeemed social condition;To know even one life has breathedeasier because you have lived;This is to have succeeded.”

TranscendentalismHenry David Thoreau:

transcendentalist who believed that one should reduce his bodily wants so as to gain time for a pursuit of truth through study and meditation.  Lived a transcendentalist life –

spent two years living in the woods living off only what he could produce (“Walden: Or Life in the Woods”).

On the Duty of Civil Disobedience – greatly influenced Gandhi and MLK

Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass; encouraged people to holler out a “barbaric yawp.”

National Literature

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow- one of the most famous poets to come from America wrote for the refined class; was adopted by the less-cultured class.

Louisa May Alcott – Little Women

Emily Dickinson - poet

Edgar Allen Poe

“Nevermore”