Chapter 12Chapter 12Shaping America in the Shaping America in the Antebellum AgeAntebellum Age

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. Religious Revival and Religious Revival and Reform PhilosophyReform Philosophy

Finney and the Second Great Finney and the Second Great AwakeningAwakening From the late 1790s to the late 1830s, a From the late 1790s to the late 1830s, a

wave of religious revivalism swept wave of religious revivalism swept through the United States.through the United States.

Personified by the flamboyant Charles Personified by the flamboyant Charles Finney who preached every night for six Finney who preached every night for six months in Rochester, New York.months in Rochester, New York.

Revivalists toned down the Calvinist Revivalists toned down the Calvinist rhetoric and preached a religion of rhetoric and preached a religion of inclusiveness.inclusiveness.

The TranscendentalistsThe Transcendentalists A small but influential group of New England A small but influential group of New England

intellectuals who lived around Ralph Waldo intellectuals who lived around Ralph Waldo Emerson, the era’s foremost thinker.Emerson, the era’s foremost thinker.

The group was called Transcendentalists The group was called Transcendentalists because of their belief that truth was found in because of their belief that truth was found in intuition beyond the senses.intuition beyond the senses.

They questioned slavery and the pursuit of They questioned slavery and the pursuit of wealth.wealth.

Members included Nathanial Hawthorne and Members included Nathanial Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau (“On Civil Disobedience”)Henry David Thoreau (“On Civil Disobedience”)

II.II. The Political Response to The Political Response to ChangeChange

Changing Political CultureChanging Political Culture Andrew Jackson’s presidency was instrumental Andrew Jackson’s presidency was instrumental

in bringing politics to the center focus of many in bringing politics to the center focus of many American lives.American lives.

Jackson promised a more democratic system of Jackson promised a more democratic system of politics.politics.

He was personally not very democratic, owned He was personally not very democratic, owned slaves, and favored the forced removal of slaves, and favored the forced removal of Indians to the west.Indians to the west.

His administration did see the effectual His administration did see the effectual emergence of a competitive party system.emergence of a competitive party system.

Old Hickory’s Vigorous Old Hickory’s Vigorous PresidencyPresidencyJackson’s key principles:Jackson’s key principles: Majority ruleMajority rule Limited power of the national governmentLimited power of the national government The obligation of the government to defend The obligation of the government to defend

the nation’s average people against the the nation’s average people against the tyranny of the wealthytyranny of the wealthy

Aggressive use of the presidential vetoAggressive use of the presidential veto Favored a rotational system of staffing the Favored a rotational system of staffing the

governmentgovernment

Jackson’s Indian PolicyJackson’s Indian Policy Andrew Jackson favored forcible removal Andrew Jackson favored forcible removal

and relocation westward on reservations.and relocation westward on reservations. A Supreme Court decision in 1823 stating A Supreme Court decision in 1823 stating

that Indians could occupy but not hold title that Indians could occupy but not hold title to land in the United States made to land in the United States made Jackson’s policy easy to implement.Jackson’s policy easy to implement.

Using harassment and bribery, Jackson’s Using harassment and bribery, Jackson’s administration forced many of the Indian administration forced many of the Indian Nations to march west to present-day Nations to march west to present-day Oklahoma.Oklahoma.

Jackson’s Bank WarJackson’s Bank War The Second Bank of the United States had been The Second Bank of the United States had been

in service since 1823 and had thirteen years left in service since 1823 and had thirteen years left on its charter.on its charter.

A responsible organization, the Bank restrained A responsible organization, the Bank restrained smaller state banks form making unwise loans smaller state banks form making unwise loans by insisting payment in the form of specie (gold by insisting payment in the form of specie (gold or silver).or silver).

American business wanted cheap, inflated, American business wanted cheap, inflated, paper money to fund expansion.paper money to fund expansion.

Jackson used the struggle to underscore Jackson used the struggle to underscore differences between social classes.differences between social classes.

The sound fiscal policy of the Bank won out and The sound fiscal policy of the Bank won out and caused The Panic of 1837.caused The Panic of 1837.

The Second American Party The Second American Party SystemSystem Democrats: had a sounder claim of Democrats: had a sounder claim of

representation of the common man with a representation of the common man with a broad base of support across the nation, broad base of support across the nation, logic often shaped policylogic often shaped policy

Whigs (formerly Republicans): Whigs (formerly Republicans): represented majority of wealth in America represented majority of wealth in America and big businesses, religion often shaped and big businesses, religion often shaped policypolicy

III.III. Perfectionist Reform and Perfectionist Reform and UtopianismUtopianism

Utopian Communities: Utopian Communities: Oneida and the ShakersOneida and the Shakers Many reformers of the age sought to create the Many reformers of the age sought to create the

perfect representation in miniature of what life perfect representation in miniature of what life should be.should be.

John Humphrey Noyles founded a society of John Humphrey Noyles founded a society of “free love” and socialism at Oneida, New York.“free love” and socialism at Oneida, New York.

The Shakers believed in communal property, The Shakers believed in communal property, perfectionism, and celibacy.perfectionism, and celibacy.

Shaker worship featured a wild dance intended Shaker worship featured a wild dance intended to release sin from the body.to release sin from the body.

Other UtopiasOther UtopiasOver 100 communities like the Shakers Over 100 communities like the Shakers

and Oneida were founded during the and Oneida were founded during the era:era:

The Ephrata colony of PennsylvaniaThe Ephrata colony of Pennsylvania The Hopedale community of Mass.The Hopedale community of Mass. The Harmonists of IndianaThe Harmonists of Indianao Closely related were the Millerites and Closely related were the Millerites and

Mormons Mormons

IV. Reforming SocietyIV. Reforming Society

TemperanceTemperance Nineteenth century Americans drank to Nineteenth century Americans drank to

excess.excess. Early efforts at curbing the public’s Early efforts at curbing the public’s

consumption focused on moderation.consumption focused on moderation. The American Temperance Society The American Temperance Society

(1826) was dedicated to total abstinence.(1826) was dedicated to total abstinence. The Society successfully used revival The Society successfully used revival

techniques of the Second Great techniques of the Second Great Awakening to motivate “converts.”Awakening to motivate “converts.”

Humanizing the AsylumHumanizing the Asylum Some efforts of reform were not aimed at Some efforts of reform were not aimed at

the salvation of the individual but towards the salvation of the individual but towards organizations such as hospitals or organizations such as hospitals or asylums.asylums.

Dorothea Dix championed the cause of the Dorothea Dix championed the cause of the mentally ill, believing adequate facilities mentally ill, believing adequate facilities and proper living conditions would go far to and proper living conditions would go far to produce some sort of a “cure.”produce some sort of a “cure.”

Working-Class ReformWorking-Class Reform In America, the institution most in need of reform In America, the institution most in need of reform

was the factory.was the factory. The reform movement gradually was adapted to The reform movement gradually was adapted to

the plight of workers and trade unions began to the plight of workers and trade unions began to appear.appear.

Skilled workers began to organize to protect Skilled workers began to organize to protect their crafts and to negotiate better conditions.their crafts and to negotiate better conditions.

The National Trades Union (1834) was the first The National Trades Union (1834) was the first attempt at a nation-wide labor organization.attempt at a nation-wide labor organization.

Tensions Within the Tensions Within the Antislavery MovementAntislavery Movement William Lloyd Garrison published William Lloyd Garrison published The LiberatorThe Liberator

——America’s first antislavery journal and helped America’s first antislavery journal and helped establish the American Anti-Slavery Society.establish the American Anti-Slavery Society.

Garrison’s message was an immediate end to Garrison’s message was an immediate end to slavery with no conditions.slavery with no conditions.

The majority of abolitionists in America The majority of abolitionists in America disagreed on how to reform slavery in America; disagreed on how to reform slavery in America; most preferred religious education, political most preferred religious education, political action, boycotts of slave-harvested goods, or action, boycotts of slave-harvested goods, or downright rebellion.downright rebellion.