CHAPTER 12

 

Shaping America in the Antebellum Age

 

Brought to you by:

 

AD, SD, RM, NO, BR

 

 

Your written work is truly excellent.  However, the format is an unfortunate distraction.  Too much text without enough breaks leads to "reading fatigue"!  (I actually added a blank line between Part I, Part II, etc.; there should probably be similar spaces between sections within the each part, too.)

 

 

SUMMARIES AND COMMENTARY

 

I.     Introduction

Summary- In 1831 and 1832, an religious fervor among Protestants washed over the nation.  Religion provided some with moorings in a fast-changing world, and others were inspired to refashion American society.

Commentary- This is not the first time there has been a sudden interest in religion.  The first great awakening of the 1730s is a perfect example, as well as the very early nineteenth century.  It should be noted that each time religion has had a sudden widespread appeal, it was around times of great change.  Yup.

 

II.     Religious Revival and Reform Philosophy

     A.     Finney and the Second Great Awakening

Summary- Rapidly growing cities such as Rochester, Lowell, and Cincinnati experienced the Second Great Awakening full force.  Sermons lead by great orators such as Charles G. Finney propelled the enthusiasm by emphasizing emotion and softening the obsolete, strict principals of the protestant religion.  Revivals were also prominent in the South and within Catholic communities.

Commentary- One major difference between the First and Second Great Awakenings is the teaching methods.  In the first, preachers told of condemnation and predestination, of finding oneself through God.  We look to examples such as "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, which prove the strictness of morals during the first great awakening.  During the second, however, ministers and orators insisted upon a softer view of morality.  They emphasized emotion and did not preach predestination, but tried to cajole people to find God through good works.  Good point - important!

     B.     The Transcendentalists

Summary- Transcendentalists were a group of intellectuals of the era that believed truth was found beyond experience in intuition.  They celebrated emotion over reason, nature over civilization, and virtue over self interest.  Transcendentalists questioned the quality of American life by questioning slavery, materialism, conformity, and the growing competitive pace of economic life. 

Commentary- It’s interesting to note the similarities and differences between transcendentalism and the religious revival.  On one hand, transcendentalists challenged conformity, and one of the major “norms” of the era was Christianity.  On the other hand, the romantic way of thinking promoted emotion and virtue, principals that missionaries had taken to preaching in order to gain a wider following.  

 

III.     The Political Response to Change

     A.     Changing Political Culture

Summary- Prior to the 1820's the voting system and politics were institutions mainly used by the economic and social elite, this changed with the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828. Furthermore, a new style of democratic politics arrived, one in which the people were viewed as a source of political victory; new styles such as conventions, rallies, and parades aimed at drawing in that power popular vote. Politics also become more "rough and ready" as parties appealed to emotions, religious views, etc, but politicians regularly attacked each other through slanderous items in the newspapers.  

Commentary- With the downfall of the old political system a new, broader version of politics reigned. As the nation experienced economic and social change, these changes also affected the political system. A new party system came into affect, making the party the strongest way to identify oneself politically. This new era of "Jacksonian Democracy" idolized the average American, giving him true power to control the government and his own future. In fact, the very system implemented in the 1820's is still in use today nearly 200 years later.  

     B.     Jackson's Path to the White House

Summary- Andrew Jackson was elected president of the United States in 1828, his long road to that position gives us an impression of what the man was like. Jackson served in the military against both the British and the Native Americans, earning him much support for his political campaign. He lost the election to John Quincy Adams in 1824 (possibly due to corruption), but in a very hard fought and bitter campaign he won the presidency in 1828. Jackson won mainly because of his wide appeal to the regular people through his ability to "make laws" and not just "state laws." 

Commentary- This section gives the readers specific details on how the changing American climate affected the political system. It also gives insight on to the type of man Jackson was, leading to his era of "Jacksonian Democracy", clearly the such or his white house reception filled with commoners is an example of this. Lastly, in this section we learn of the split in the Old Repbulican party between Nationals and Democratic, this emphasized by those who believed in an excess of democracy and those who believed events represented fufillment.

     C.     Old Hickory's Vigorous Presidency

Summary- Andrew Jackson was unlike other presidents of his era and set himself to become the peoples' president. He advocated drastic change to the transportation system, wanted a restructuring of the government (eliminate the corrupt), and was a supporter of protective tariffts. The keeping of the tariff also showed another part of Jackson, a strong Nationalist.

Commentary- Jackson's plans for America attempted to bind together all the states of America, as he supported a strong Union. Furthermore, Jackson's new style of politics set a precedent for further democratic practices such as binding oneself to the common man. Lastly, in a some what ominous note, though Jackson's presidency was "vigorous" he chose to side-step a larger issue at play between nationalism and sectionalism, slavery. Refusing to speak to slavery led to its constant escalation to the point were war was inevitable.

     D.     Jackson's Indian Policy

Summary- Jackson's policy on Indians was very clear in his presidency, their full removal from land near whites. Many of these tribes therefore attempted to form legal actions with the United States government hoping it would prevent their further loss of land with white man's treaties and documents. Furthermore, in 1832 when Jackson advocated the removal of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia Cheif Justice John Marshall stated that the Cherokees could retain their land and their removal was unconstitutional, whereby Jackson uttered his famous line "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it" and sent the army to evict the Indians. This was further done because a small group of dissident chiefs agreed to sign the treaty, effectively backstabbing their own people.

Commentary- Jackson's actions against the Indians set another precedent for dealing with them in the future. Furthermore, the land that the U.S. government recieved from the Indians was a key factor in facilitating the economic growth of America as seen in Chapter 10. Lastly, Jackson was among the first presidents to realize that the supreme court had no enforcement power a fundamenal way presidents could bypass that branch of government. 

     E.     Jackson's Bank War and "Van Ruin's" Depression 

Summary- Andrew Jackson despised the National Bank of the United States, finding such an organization to be a "special privilege monopoly" that damaged the interests of the common man. Many of his political opponents attempted to bypass Jackson's anger toward the bank by rescheduling its charter four years earlier than before, thereby forcing Jackson to veto the bank in an election year. Jackson pushed forward and though did not get rid of the bank he severely crippled it by transferring 10 million dollars in government funds to state banks. This along with other international trade events led to a rising cost of living as well as a flood of paper money. Jackson, in order to prevent mass inflation issued the "Specie Circular" announcing that the government would accept only gold and silver in payment for public lands, this led to masses of individuals attempting to change their notes into gold and silver. This blunder became the Panic of 1837 and led to "Van Ruin's" Depression. 

Commentary- The end of Jackson's presidency was the beginning of a depression. The resulting depression destroyed much of the labor union work created earlier in the centaury as individuals sought to work no matter the wages or benefits. Though many individuals feel that Jackson's bank war did not cause this completely, it certainly contributed very much. Furthermore, Jackson's action against the bank more clearly defined party differences between Democratic and National Republicans, and his successor's presidency (Van Buren) would then afterword be marked by successive National Republicans.

     F.     The Second American Party System

Summary- During the mid 1830's two new partys began to dominate the political stage in America, the Democratic Republicans and the National Republicans. There are several differences between the parties which are outlined below.

 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS	NATIONAL REPUBLICANS (Whigs)
Party of the common man (had support all over America)	Represented greater wealth than the Republicans(Strong New England Support)
Many social outcasts found home in this party	Appealed to businessmen and Manufacturers
True to the Jeffersonian vision of government- liberty and local rule- individuals follow their interests	Favored Clay's American System- federally supported internal improvements, a national bank, and protective tarrifs
Sought to separate politics from moral issues	Felt politics was the area in which people could "clense" society
Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren	Henry Clay, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler

 

Commentary- The coming of the new American two-party system resounded change for America. Once again there was no single dominant party, ending the Era of Good Feeling, and individuals could express themselves and their values/interests by voting for their new party. Lastly, the new style of politics once again contributes as both partys used new ways of linking with the public to win their elections.

 

IV.     Europeans' Travel Journals  

Summary- During the 1830s and within the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, many Europeans intrigued with the liberty and lifestyle of America came to see it for themselves. The three members from the book were Alexis de Tocqueville from France, Harriet Martineau from Britain, and Francis Grund, a Czech. Though not all were positive, the general majority found America’s strong liberty and freedom a drastic shock from the old European monarchies and tyrannies. 

Commentary- It was interesting to note, that as above, all of the individuals wrote something about the sheer amount of liberty and freedom that Americans’ have. Not only do these comments give us information about how members of other countries viewed us, but we can use this information objectively (to an extent) to determine what life was like in the 1830s. Lastly, the appeal of America’s liberty provides insight as to what was so attractive in America that brought so many foreigners.  

 

V.      Perfectionist Reform and Utopianism

Summary- Brought on mainly by the Second Great Awakening, many Americans took the notion of reforming America one step further; they took it on as their God-given mission to perfect society and create a utopia.  Many aspects brought on this need to perfect society, including many old aspects such as puritan values, romanticism, Whig ideology, and the growing uneasiness over the shifting class relationships.

Commentary- A notable aspect of this Utopianism is that it is directly influenced the past, present, and future.  Puritan values, which are easy to overlook and consider obsolete play an important role in this reformist era.  People look to the past as security and long for a similar, simpler structure, which they believe to be a better way of life.  I think many people of that time overlooked the problems inherent to the Puritan lifestyle and the reasons that it became obsolete in the first place.  Many were too wrapped up in the notion that Puritan communities were this “City on a Hill,” when in actuality, though they strived for that, many of those societies failed due to that ambition.  The present, meaning Romanticism, also directly influenced the Perfectionist Reform.  This is rather interesting because the two seem rather different.  The Perfectionists took the notion that there is good in everyone, which is a Romantic idea, and used that to attract audiences and incorporated it into their sermons.  Finally, the uneasiness with the unstable class system, or a fear of what that class system will be in the future, initiated a need for stability, a stability which many people believed would be brought on by religion.

     A.     The Dilemmas of Reform

Summary- Reformers began to meet with some opposition, not only by those against change, but also between themselves.  With so many ways to go about reforming America, many had different opinions on how they should go about this change.  One example is reformers could go about changing people’s mindsets, hoping that changes in institution will follow, or vice versa, hoping that the changes in institutions will reform mindsets. 

Commentary- The book mentions many different ways of reforming, one of which being changing institutions.  It mentions that to do this, reformers must go about trying to pass laws, win elections, form unions, boycott, and abolish institutions.  This brings up the point of the effects of these reforms on the government.  It is obvious in reading that all of this affects the country as a whole, but it is easy to overlook the idea of it playing a role in government.  Many of these reformists felt that to make alterations to society, a position of power was necessary.  Those who did not have that power, sought different ways to either gain or influence it.  This could create problems.  Where the American citizens could choose whether or not to go along with the reform movements, if these movements were being run by people in office, even though Americans still have their rights, it is much harder to resist a senator than it is a minister.

     B. Utopian Communities: Oneida and the Shakers

Summary- To go about reforming the world, many smaller “Utopian” societies were created, namely one in Oneida, New York, founded by John Noyes and the Shakers, another group of communitarians.  These groups formed their own rules and became what they figured was a Utopian community.  

Commentary- All of these “Utopian” communities are directly related to the old Puritan communities of the 1500s and 1600s.  They are small, isolated, with their own set of morals and laws, both of which are strictly abided by.  They are very conservative in their ideals and focus on the simpler way of life, mainly agriculture or furniture manufacturing.  It is interesting to see how people will seize onto the past as a means for stability in a rocky present.  Finally, the word utopian is used in quotations because although these reformers and perfectionist communities set out to create Utopias, the term utopia is up for interpretation.  It merely means a perfect community.  Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, however.  These societies felt that their rules were perfect, and to them, they were.  To others of the time, however, restricting sex and free will was not “perfect” and therefore these communities were merely isolated and ostracized societies with warped opinions, not utopias. 

     C. Other Utopias

Summary- Attempts at forming more utopian communities continued. Some, like the Pietist-German groups in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa sought to preserve their language, spirituality, and lifestyle, while some, founded themselves upon ethical teachings of Jesus and advocated temperance, women's rights, and pacifism. Utopian communities based on principles of the Enlightenment held to the belief that an improved environment, instead of morality would get rid of poverty, ignorance, and intemperance (results of the industrialism). Agricultural and industrial communities were formed, but eventually, like all other utopian communities, collapsed due to a lack of leadership, financial problems, and an unwillingness to to share property,responsibility, and spouses.

Commentary- Utopian communities were formed to address immorality, and the ills of the industrial revolution. Even though America supposedly provided opportunity for all, in reality, many people with an immigrant background felt left out. In order to fill economic and social voids, people formed communities where they though that life would be better. Some aspects of people's lives improved, such as their value system. However, in the end, most of these communities collapsed, because down deep, Americans wanted to be individuals, and did not want to share property or family. 

     D.     Millerites and Mormons

Summary- With the failing of the utopian communities, people looked to Second Coming of Christ. William Miller, a farmer from upstate New York became engrossed with this, and thought that he had calculated the exact time of the event, which was March of 1843. The Millerites, a religious sect, joined him along with others to wait for Christ's return , however, after many failed predictions, Miller became discredited and died. Although Miller was not successful, different, new, and successful religious sects emerged from the Milllerites, such as the Seventh-Day Adventists and the Mormons, who eventually ended up heading west of Illinois after a series of violent uproars fueled by those upset with the group's missionary work and rumors of unorthodox sexual practices. 

Commentary- Although the Second Coming of Christ was a disappointment, new religious sects portrayed a vision of social and religous order for many. Even though they did encounter violence along the way, Mormons gained supporters and followers, becoming a substantial group. The new religious sects were not necessarily utopias, but were groups of salvation for those distressed and looking for some sort of order and peace by means of religion.

 

VI.     Reforming Society

     A.     Temperance

Summary- During the ninteenth century, strong social action began to take place, including that against consumption of alcohol. Through the formation of local societies, such as The American Temperance Society, fervent lectures, and mass meetings, people were educated about the negative effects of alcoholism and persuaded towards sobriety and abstinence. People were also motivated to give up drinking though practicality and politics, and in the 1840's, alcoholism was argued by some to be a disease. Laws were also passed in the 1850's against the sale, manufacture, and consumption of alcohol in some areas. 

Commentary- The promotion of temperance and the formation of temperance societies did not only reduce drinking, they provided support and comfort for many Americans. The societies, in addition to contributing to the better health of the people, provided jobs, reduced domestic violence, helped Americans find spouses, and gave them a sense of relief during a period of so many changes and transitions. The social order that the societies provided, more than the increased abstinence, benefited Americans the most. They provided a new sense of comfort.

     B.     Health and Sexuality

Summary- In addition to abstaining from drinking, reformers promoted against excessive eating and use of stimulants, and different diets and cleansing methods to improve the body's health, including hydropathy, hypnotism, and phrenology. Reformers also started a movement pertaining to sexual abstinence. In 1843, Sylvester Graham, an advocate of proper hygiene, started to encourage exercise as an alternative to sexual activity, and many held the idea that the body's organs had "particular and limited functions to perform." Some advised that sexual activity should strictly be for reproduction, and using it for pleasure could cause enervation, death, disease, or insanity. 

Commentary- In an effort to clean up physically, Americans started to look at their health and sexuality from a different perspective. With all of the moral reform, people realized that physical reform was needed as well. By eating healthier, refraining from the use of stimulants, and saving sexual activity for reproduction, Americans were also practicing self control.  

     C.     Humanizing the Asylum

Summary- When it came to caring for society's outcasts, America had not yet succeeded. In many of the institutions, such as almshouses and prisons, children, criminals, insane, and sane people were all kept together in abusive environments, where the insane were confined and beaten. In 1843, Dorthea Dix, a reformer from New England, took action and was determined to change these conditions by building special asylums for society's outcasts. She believed that the harsh conditions had harmed these outcasts, and that properly built and run institutions could save them. Other reformers followed by building institutions for children, the blind, and the deaf, however prison reformers still believed in solitary confinement, , and as a result, the reformed and improved institutions became overcrowded,uncomfortable, and unsuccessful. 

Commentary- Even though the institutions built for society's outcasts had little success, Americans started to show more respect to their own people. Leaders like Dorthea Dix provided a wake-up call to Americans that they were treating their own people like animals, and the sick deserved a respectful and comfortable environment where they could try to heal themselves back to mental health. Instead of trashing those who needed help, leaders began to take action by providing help to children, men, and women with all different mental and physical needs. America unified its people more by giving everyone a place to belong in society, even social outcasts. 

     D.     Working-Class Reform

Summary- Between 1828 and 1832 working class Americans took it on themselves to improve their working conditions, and with Andrew Jackson nearing his presidency, this became an easier feat. Trade unions and labor parties were created began in Philadelphia and organized jobs such as carpenters, plasteresrs, printers, weavers, and tailors. The first attempt at a national labor organization, The National Trades Union, was founded in 1834. Trade unions were more successful than labor parties because they included shorter hours, and wages that kept pace with rising prices.  Middle class workers also wanted abolition of imprisonment for debt and militia duty.  Many stikes were organized and many movements took place, but the Panic of 1837 ended all hopes workers had for reform.

Commentary- Workers in the time leading up to Andrew Jackson's presidency built up some kind of courage that enabled them to organize revolts.  Andrew Jackson becoming president gave many hope for a better future.  Workers demanding for higher wages would eventually lead to very little money for the country because of the increase in workers and a decline in the number of jobs because everyone wants to make money.  I believe that in a way, these protests might have led to The Panic of 1837 showing how Americans will never truly be satisfied.  No 1st person!

 

VII.     Abolitionism and Women's Rights

     A.     Tensions within the Antislavery Movement

Summary- Both whites and African Americans worked hard to abolish slavery in America.  William Lloyd Garrison was one of the many once-a-slave abolitionists who wrote about the horrible things slavery started.  There were many groups with different ideas, some wanted to send slaves back to Africa after being freed, while others tried to end slavery in America.  There were also some abolitionist groups that were working hard to abolish slavery, but did not want anything to do with women's rights and when women were appointed to council, many men walked out, while others worked for freedom for both people of different race and gender.  Frederick Douglass was one of the many abolitionists that worked to abolish slavery in America while also working for women's rights.

Commentary- The different levels of freedom and the different views on why America sould abolish slavery seemed to had made it very difficult for groups to agree on things.  For example: the fact that most white abolitionists wanted to abolish slavery just so that America did not have that ugly black spot on their perfect history, while African American abolitionists wanted the same rights as white men for African Americans in the North as well as in the South.  Especially because there were varying degrees of freedom for African Americans in both the North and the South.  An important point!  (Good job.)

     B.     Flood Tide of Abolitionism

Summary- Even though white and African American abolitionists did disagee, they worked together well.  Both races were able to get smany laves from station to station on the underground railroad.  Abolitionists were treated horribly for the acts that they did.  President Jackson was one to slander and enforce antiabolitionist acts.  For example, he was one to ban antislavery literature from US mails and to encourage brutal punishment to those who were involved in abolition.  Meanwhile, black and white abolitionists continued to reach their goal with events that eventually led up to the civil war.

Commentary- What would our country be like if people like former president John Quincy Adams had not been put in Congress?  If acts/laws such as the "gag rule" had not been repealed?  Would our schools still be segregated?  Would women be at home getting dinner ready and knitting?  Because of the abolitionists being able to work together, despite what race they were, America is able to accept people of all races.  The fact that there were people like President Jackson in Congress shows how far we have come as a country.

     C.     Women's Rights

Summary-  Abby Kelley from Massachusetts started giving abolitionist speeches in public in the 1830s, leading her and other women to start redefining conventional roles of women in society, employing domestic feminism.  Women started the Female Moral Reform Society to convert prostitutes to evangelical Protestantism and close houses of prostitution.  As more and more women spoke out against slavery, they faced more hostility and were told that women were inferior and should serve men.  Male abolitionists were generally torn about women's rights.  At the World Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840, women were not allowed to participate.  Women abolitionists, outraged by this, resolved to make a society to advocate the rights of women.  In 1848, in Seneca Falls, NY, their protest gathering was one of the most significant gatherings of the antebellum era.  Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, the "Declaration of Sentiments" proclaimed that "all men and women are created equal".  To fix the list of women's grievances, 11 resolutions called for eqaul opportunities in education and work, equality before the law, the right to appear on public platforms, and the right to the elective franchise (the most controversial resolution).  Led by Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, women met in annual conventions and worked to achieve equality in political, legal, and property aspects of life throughout the 1850s.  The right to vote, however, would have to wait until 1920 for the Nineteenth Ammendment.  The Seneca Falls convention was crucial in starting the campaign for equal public rights.  You are absolutely correct about the importance of Seneca Falls...but what do you mean by "equal public rights"?  Not to be too picky here, but the main focus of the Women's Movement from this point until 1920 was getting "the vote"...

 Commentary-  Women tried (and according to the text, are still trying today) to achieve psychological autonomy and self-respect in the antebellum age.  The Female Moral Reform Society was an attempt to clean up America, but keep husbands in line and stop men's sexual behavior.  The irony in abolitionist speeches was that women were not allowed at some conventions.  The abolitionist men and women all believed in the same thing, but gender issues kept women from speaking (and who knows: some women's speeches could have been more convincing and powerful than some men's, but they didn't get a chance to introduce their views).  Not to attack men, or gain favor for women, there is the fact of "life is unfair" here.  The other irony in this is that the increasing hostility towards women for speaking out against slavery came from clergymen, who referred to the Bible to justify female inferiority and servility.  Without the beginning of the women's rights movement in the antebellum age by outspoken women, who knows where women would be now.  But, even so, there is still a distinct difference between men and women, and what is expected from them.

 

VIII.     At Minstrel Shows

Summary- The most popular form of entertainment in the antebellum age for the American people was the blackface minstrel.  Thomas "Daddy" Rice started minstrelsy in the 1820s by imitating a crippled black stablemen's clumsy dance steps to an audience in a New York theater.  In the 1830s and 1840s, Rice started covering his face with burnt coal to perform his stereotypical black characters.  In the 1840s and 1850s, the minstrel show had become a troupe of several entertainers who performed a variety of black songs, almost always in blackface.  A staple of the show was a line of actors with a man in the middle who made wisecracks about sexuality, race, class, and other taboo topics.  These shows soothed fears (blacks taking their women or jobs) of whites by mocking everything about blacks.  Minstrels  further soothed whites by portraying slaves as content and happy.  The minstrels changed continously to please the audiences, and eventually evolved into forms of twentieth century theater.

Commentary-  The minstrel shows started with mocking slaves and evolved into harsher mocking of slaves.  These shows helped calm the whites and make them pretend that the black slaves were happy (in some cases), and not a threat.  By blackfacing, whites could show some of their true emotions about blacks, whether it be attraction or repulsion.  These shows were a huge source of entertainment in the antebellum age, at the cost of mockery of blacks, and lies about the black-white relationships.

 

IX.     Conclusion

Summary-  Advocates for women's rights and temperance, abolitionists, and other reformers were inspired by religious revivalism.  However, these antebellum reforms differed greatly from Jacksonian politics.  Most reformers were anti-Jackson Whigs, as Jackson and most Democrats rejected the moralism of the reformers.  Reformers and political parties were both organized, mirrored new tensions in a changing society, had faith in change and progress, but feared those forces that could jeopardize that progress.  Whatever issues both sides were dealing with, they saw their responsibilities as patriotic duty, and both believed they could rid the evil forces to shape a better America, and remake it politically and morally.  Mid-century, slavery came out as the most divisive issue.  Reformers made slavery a part of national debates, and the question of slavery in new territories will become unavoidable.

Commentary-  Reformers and politicians were often at odds, partly because they fought entirely different battles.  Reformers fought to win rights, rid the nation of slavery and alcohol, or stop mob violences.  Meanwhile, Jackson politicians fought to stop the national bank, stop nullification, or beat political opponents.  Their tactics, and reasoning, were considerably similar however.  Trouble about slavery has already started, with abolitionists (male and female) and questions in Washington on slavery in the new territories.  Yup.

 

 

VOCAB 

 

Temperance- Abstinence from alcohol.

Hydropathy- Purifying the body with water. This could cure chronic and untreated urogenital infections. 

Phrenology-The study of bumps on the head.  

Domestic Feminism- Belief that women had complete freedom in the home

Manumit- To free from slavery or servitude.

Moral Suasion- Method which abolitionists used to convince the general public that slavery was a sin.

Romanticism- An artistic and intellectual movement characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions.

Utopia- An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects.

 

 

ID'S

 

 

Adin Ballou- Founded Hopedale in Massachusetts in 1840, a utopian community focused on the ethical teachings of Jesus.

The Practical Christian-The newspaper of Hopedale which supported the reform of temperance pacifism, and women's rights.   

Marius R. Robinson- He was involved in the Underground Railroad in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, also the subject of mob attacks.

James Buchanan- The fifteenth president of the United States, he is an example of the changing trend in politics to favor one's party over bipartisan politics.

Henry Clay- A 19th centuary statesman and orator as well as founder of the Whig party.

John C. Calhoun- One time Vice-President of Andrew Jackson, at first he was a nationalist but his opposition to the tariff affecting South Carolina (his home) showed his true sectionalist views.

Martin Van Buren- The second Vice President of Andrew Jackson who later became 8th president of the United States.

Daniel Webster- Another great orator and stateman of the time who was the Senator of Massachusetts, he was a political enemy of Jackson and an ardent nationalist

William Writ- The canidate for the Anti-Mason party, being the first third party in American politics as well as hold a nominating convention

William Henry Harrison- The 9th President of the United States who died quickly after taken into office, passing lead to Zachory Taylor. Harrison was a member of the Whig party.

Francis de Tocqueville- A member of the French aristocracy who visited America and commented on its liberties and institutions.

Robert Owen- Founded "New Harmony" a utopian community in Indiana. He was a well known, Scottish secular communalist, and envisioned small "Agricultural and Manufacturing Villages of Unity and  Mutual Cooperation," with a good education and work system. "New Harmony" collapsed within three years.

Bronson Alcott and George Ripley- founded "Brook Farm," a utopian community where people would hoe in the fields and shove manure, study literature, and recite poetry. "Brook Farm" collapsed within three years.

William Miller- A farmer from upstate New York who lead a group of followers to the supposed Second Coming of Christ in 1843, which never occurred.

Joseph Smith- A convert from Palmyra New York, who founded Mormonism, was tried for treason, and was killed by a mob.

Theodore Dwight Weld- Delivered speeches against drinking that persuaded Americans towards immediate abstinence.

The American Temperance Society- Founded in 1826. Society that was committed to complete abstinence.

The Washington Temperance Society- founded in 1840. It attracted unemployed young workers and argued that alcoholism was a disease. 

Sylvester Graham-He was a promoter of proper hygiene and diet. 

Dorthea Dix- She was a reformer from New England who suggested asylums and reformed institutions for the insane. 

Charles Loring Brace- He started a Children's Aid Society in New York in 1853. 

Gridley Howe and Thomas Gallaudet- These two men created institutions that provided care and education for the blind and deaf. 

Abby Kelley- Started circulating anti-slavery petitions, and later devoted her life to the anti-slavery movement and women's rights

Elizabeth Stanton- Along with Lucretia Mott, resolved to "form a society to advocate the rights of women"

Susan B. Anthony- Played a major role in securing women the right to vote

World Anti-Slavery Convention of 1840- Anti-slavery convention in which female abolitionists were not allowed to participate in

Female Moral Reform Society- A society formed to clean up America and limit men's sexual behavior

Seth Luther- a labor leader in New England

National Trades Union- first attempt at a national labor organization

William Lloyd Garrison- publisher of The Liberator, the first antislavery journal in the US, who wrote passionately against slavery.  Also established the American Anti-Slavery Society.

American Slavery As It Is- book which described in detail of every treatement of slaves

Charles G. Finney- A powerful preacher during the second great awakening

 

 

 

GEOGRAPHY

Utopian communities (marked with an *):

 

Pennsylvania*: Ephrata colonists

Indiana*: Harmonists (New Harmony) 

Ohio*: Zoar Community

Iowa*: Amana society

Massachusetts*: Hopedale in Massachusetts

Georgia*- Original land of Cherokees

South Carolina*- A site of great strife during the "Tariff of Abomination"

Path of Mormon Settlements:Palmyra, 1830--> Kirtland, 1831-1835--> Independence, 1831-1839--> Omaha, 1846-1848--> Salt Lake City

Rochester- Temperance speech given by Weld in 1831. 

Baltimore- Washington Temperance Society formed in 1840. 

Maine-Law passed to prohibit the sale, manufacture, and consumption of alcohol in 1851. 

New York- Children's Aid Society established in 1853. 

Seneca Falls, NY: Seneca Falls Convention, 1848, for women's rights

Rochester, NY (as well as Lowell and Cincinnati)- A major city developing in the 1830's that was hit by the wave of religious revival full force

 

 

 

LINKS

  

Period 2 - Chapter 9 

 (Especially "Women's Lives" and "Race, Slavery, and the Limits of Reform")

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!!  We hope you learned a lot =)

 

 

My only real complaints are as follows:

1.  Format!  It IS distracting!

2.  A little too much summary.  Remember - you are NOT supposed to write a summary about everything - but rather focus on the most important things!  Remember:   "Less is More"!

 

95/A