The Age of ReformThe Age of Reform

Social Reform and The Social Reform and The AbolitionistsAbolitionists

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The Religious InfluenceThe Religious Influence In the early 1800’s, a wave of religious In the early 1800’s, a wave of religious

fervor – known as the 2fervor – known as the 2ndnd Great Great Awakening – stirred the nation. Awakening – stirred the nation.

The first Great Awakening had spread The first Great Awakening had spread through the colonies in the mid 1700s.through the colonies in the mid 1700s.

The new religious movement began with The new religious movement began with frontier camp meetings called revivals.frontier camp meetings called revivals.

People came from miles around to hear People came from miles around to hear preachers, such as Charles Finney.preachers, such as Charles Finney.

The experience often made men and The experience often made men and women eager to reform both their own women eager to reform both their own lives and the world. lives and the world.

War against AlcoholWar against AlcoholReligious leaders stood at the forefront of Religious leaders stood at the forefront of

the war against alcohol.the war against alcohol.Alcohol abuse was widespread, especially Alcohol abuse was widespread, especially

in the West and among urban workers. in the West and among urban workers. Reformers blamed alcohol for poverty, Reformers blamed alcohol for poverty,

the breakup of families, crime, and even the breakup of families, crime, and even insanity.insanity.

They called for temperance, drinking little They called for temperance, drinking little or no alcohol.or no alcohol.

The movement gathered momentum in The movement gathered momentum in 1826 when the American Society for the 1826 when the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was formed. Promotion of Temperance was formed.

War against AlcoholWar against AlcoholThe temperance movement gained a The temperance movement gained a

major victory in 1851, when Maine major victory in 1851, when Maine passed a law banning the manufacture passed a law banning the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Other states passed similar laws. Other states passed similar laws. Many Americans resented these laws, Many Americans resented these laws,

and most were repealed within several and most were repealed within several years. years.

Reforming EducationReforming EducationThe leader of educational reform was Horace The leader of educational reform was Horace

Mann, a lawyer who became the head of the Mann, a lawyer who became the head of the Massachusetts Board of Education in 1837.Massachusetts Board of Education in 1837.

During his term Mann lengthened the school During his term Mann lengthened the school year to six months, made improvements in year to six months, made improvements in the school curriculum, doubled teachers’ the school curriculum, doubled teachers’ salaries, and developed better ways of salaries, and developed better ways of training teachers.training teachers.

Partly due to Mann’s efforts, Massachusetts Partly due to Mann’s efforts, Massachusetts in 1839 founded the nation’s first state-in 1839 founded the nation’s first state-supported supported normal schoolnormal school, a school for , a school for training high-school graduates as teachers.training high-school graduates as teachers.

Other states soon adopted the reforms.Other states soon adopted the reforms.

People With Special NeedsPeople With Special NeedsSome reformers focused on the problem Some reformers focused on the problem

of teaching people with disabilities.of teaching people with disabilities.Thomas Gallaudet, who developed a Thomas Gallaudet, who developed a

method to educate people who were method to educate people who were hearing impaired, opened the Harford hearing impaired, opened the Harford School for the Deaf in Connecticut in School for the Deaf in Connecticut in 1817. 1817.

Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe developed Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe developed books with large raised letters that books with large raised letters that people with sight impairments could people with sight impairments could “read” with their fingers.“read” with their fingers.

People With Special NeedsPeople With Special NeedsWhen school teacher Dorthea Dix began When school teacher Dorthea Dix began

visiting prisons in 1841, she found the visiting prisons in 1841, she found the prisoners were often living in inhumane prisoners were often living in inhumane conditions – chained to walls with little or conditions – chained to walls with little or no clothing.no clothing.

To further her horror, she learned that To further her horror, she learned that some fo the inmates were gulty of no some fo the inmates were gulty of no crime – they were mentally ill persons. crime – they were mentally ill persons.

Dix made it her life’s work to educate the Dix made it her life’s work to educate the public as to the poor conditions for both public as to the poor conditions for both the mentally ill and for prisoners. the mentally ill and for prisoners.

Cultural TrendsCultural TrendsBeginning in the 1820s American artists Beginning in the 1820s American artists

developed their own style and explored developed their own style and explored American themes.American themes.

The American spirit of reform influence The American spirit of reform influence transcendentalists.transcendentalists.

TranscendentalistTranscendentalist stressed the stressed the relationship between humans and nature relationship between humans and nature as well as the importance of the as well as the importance of the individual conscience. individual conscience.

Leading transcendentalists writers were: Leading transcendentalists writers were: Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.and Henry David Thoreau.

Cultural TrendsCultural TrendsFuller supported rights for womenFuller supported rights for womenEmerson urged people to listen to the inner Emerson urged people to listen to the inner

voice of conscience and to break the bonds voice of conscience and to break the bonds of prejudice. of prejudice.

Thoreau put his beliefs into practice Thoreau put his beliefs into practice through through civil disobediencecivil disobedience – refusing to – refusing to obey laws he thought were unjust.obey laws he thought were unjust.

In 1846 Thoreau went to jail rather than In 1846 Thoreau went to jail rather than pay a tax to support the Mexican War. pay a tax to support the Mexican War.

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the most Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the most successful best seller of the mid 1800s, successful best seller of the mid 1800s, Uncle Toms’ CabinUncle Toms’ Cabin. Stowe’s novel explores . Stowe’s novel explores eh injustice of slavery – an issue that took eh injustice of slavery – an issue that took on a new urgency during the age of reform.on a new urgency during the age of reform.

Efforts to End SlaveryEfforts to End SlaveryThe spirit of reform that swept the U.S. also The spirit of reform that swept the U.S. also

included the efforts of abolitionists like included the efforts of abolitionists like Garrison and Douglass – members of the Garrison and Douglass – members of the growing band of reformers who worked to growing band of reformers who worked to abolish slavery.abolish slavery.

By the early 1800s, Northern states had By the early 1800s, Northern states had ended slavery, but it continued in the ended slavery, but it continued in the South.South.

The religious movement of the early and The religious movement of the early and mid-1800s gave new life to the antislavery mid-1800s gave new life to the antislavery movement.movement.

Many of the men and women who led the Many of the men and women who led the antislavery movement cam from the antislavery movement cam from the QuakerQuaker faith. faith.

American Colonization American Colonization SocietySocietyThe first large-scale antislavery effort was not The first large-scale antislavery effort was not

aimed at abolishing slavery but at resettling aimed at abolishing slavery but at resettling African Americans in Africa or the Caribbean.African Americans in Africa or the Caribbean.

The The American Colonization SocietyAmerican Colonization Society, formed in , formed in 1816 by a group of white Virginians, worked to 1816 by a group of white Virginians, worked to free enslaved workers gradually by buying free enslaved workers gradually by buying them from slaveholders and sending them them from slaveholders and sending them abroad to start new lives. abroad to start new lives.

The society raised enough money to acquire The society raised enough money to acquire land on the west coast of Africa for a colony.land on the west coast of Africa for a colony.

The society sent several African Americans to The society sent several African Americans to this land called this land called LiberiaLiberia, “place of freedom.”, “place of freedom.”

William Lloyd GarrisonWilliam Lloyd GarrisonReformers realized that the gradual Reformers realized that the gradual

approach to ending slavery had failed.approach to ending slavery had failed.Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison

stimulated the growth of the antislavery stimulated the growth of the antislavery movement.movement.

In 1829 Garrison left Massachusetts to In 1829 Garrison left Massachusetts to work for the country’s leading antislavery work for the country’s leading antislavery newspaper in Baltimore.newspaper in Baltimore.

Impatient with the paper’s moderate Impatient with the paper’s moderate position, Garrison retuned to Boston in position, Garrison retuned to Boston in 1831 to found his own newspaper, 1831 to found his own newspaper, The The LiberatorLiberator. .

William Lloyd GarrisonWilliam Lloyd GarrisonGarrison was one of the first white Garrison was one of the first white

abolitionists to call for the “immediate abolitionists to call for the “immediate and complete emancipation of enslaved and complete emancipation of enslaved people.”people.”

Garrison attracted enough followers to Garrison attracted enough followers to start the New England Antislavery Society start the New England Antislavery Society in 1832 and the American Antislavery in 1832 and the American Antislavery Society in 1833.Society in 1833.

The abolitionist movement grew rapidly.The abolitionist movement grew rapidly.

The Grimke SistersThe Grimke SistersSarah and Angelina Grimke were among Sarah and Angelina Grimke were among

the first women who spoke out publicly the first women who spoke out publicly against slavery.against slavery.

The Grimke Sisters were from a wealthy The Grimke Sisters were from a wealthy slaveholding family. They asked for their slaveholding family. They asked for their inheritance early and used it to set inheritance early and used it to set enslaved workers free.enslaved workers free.

Angelina Grimke and her husband, Angelina Grimke and her husband, abolitionist Theodore Weld, wrote abolitionist Theodore Weld, wrote American Slavery As It Is in 1839American Slavery As It Is in 1839. .

This collection of firsthand accounts of life This collection of firsthand accounts of life under slavery was one of the most under slavery was one of the most influential abolitionist publications of its influential abolitionist publications of its time. time.

African American AbolitionistsAfrican American AbolitionistsAfrican Americans played a major role in African Americans played a major role in

the abolitionist movement from the start.the abolitionist movement from the start.The abolition of slavery was an especially The abolition of slavery was an especially

important goal to the free African important goal to the free African Americans of the North. Americans of the North.

In 1830 free African American leaders In 1830 free African American leaders held their first convention in Philadelphia. held their first convention in Philadelphia. Delegates met “to devise ways and Delegates met “to devise ways and means for the bettering of our condition.” means for the bettering of our condition.”

They discussed starting an African They discussed starting an African American college and encouraging free American college and encouraging free African Americans to emigrate to Canada. African Americans to emigrate to Canada.

Frederick DouglassFrederick DouglassFrederick Douglass, the most widely Frederick Douglass, the most widely

known African American abolitionist, was known African American abolitionist, was born enslaved in Maryland.born enslaved in Maryland.

After teaching himself to read and write, After teaching himself to read and write, he escaped from slavery and settled in he escaped from slavery and settled in New York.New York.

For 16 years, Douglass edited an For 16 years, Douglass edited an antislavery newspaper called the North antislavery newspaper called the North Star. Star.

Douglass won admiration as a powerful Douglass won admiration as a powerful and influential speaker and writer.and influential speaker and writer.

He traveled abroad, speaking to huge He traveled abroad, speaking to huge antislavery audiences in London and West antislavery audiences in London and West Indies.Indies.

Sojourner TruthSojourner TruthSojourner Truth was born a slaved as Sojourner Truth was born a slaved as

Isabella Baumfree.Isabella Baumfree.She escaped in 1826 and gained official She escaped in 1826 and gained official

freedom in 1827 when New York banned freedom in 1827 when New York banned slavery.slavery.

In 1843 she chose the name “In 1843 she chose the name “Sojourner Sojourner TruthTruth” “because from this day I will walk ” “because from this day I will walk in the light of God’s truth.”in the light of God’s truth.”

She began to work in the movements for She began to work in the movements for abolitionism and for women’s rights. abolitionism and for women’s rights.

The Underground RailroadThe Underground RailroadThe network of escape routes from the The network of escape routes from the

South to the North came to be called the South to the North came to be called the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad. .

During the day passengers (runaway During the day passengers (runaway slaves) rested at “slaves) rested at “stationsstations” – barns, attics, ” – barns, attics, church basements until the next night’s church basements until the next night’s journey.journey.

The railroad “The railroad “conductorsconductors” were whites and ” were whites and African Americans who helped guide the African Americans who helped guide the escaping slaves to freedom in the North.escaping slaves to freedom in the North.

Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman became the most famous became the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.conductor on the Underground Railroad.

The Underground RailroadThe Underground RailroadSlaveholders offered a large reward for Slaveholders offered a large reward for

Tubman’s capture or death.Tubman’s capture or death.The Underground Railroad helped onla The Underground Railroad helped onla

tiny fraction of the enslaved population. tiny fraction of the enslaved population. It gave hope to those who suffered in It gave hope to those who suffered in

slavery.slavery. It also provided abolitionists with a way to It also provided abolitionists with a way to

help some enslaved people to freedom.help some enslaved people to freedom.

Opposition in the NorthOpposition in the NorthEven in the North, abolitionists never Even in the North, abolitionists never

numbered more than a small fraction of numbered more than a small fraction of the population.the population.

Many Northerners saw the antislavery Many Northerners saw the antislavery movement as a threat to the nation’s movement as a threat to the nation’s social order.social order.

They feared the abolitionist could bring They feared the abolitionist could bring on a destructive war between the North on a destructive war between the North and the South.and the South.

They also claimed that, if the enslaved They also claimed that, if the enslaved African Americans were freed, they could African Americans were freed, they could never blend into American society. never blend into American society.

The South Reacts The South Reacts Southerners claimed that slavery was Southerners claimed that slavery was

essential to the South.essential to the South.They also argued that they treated They also argued that they treated

enslaved people well.enslaved people well.Some Southerners argued that Northern Some Southerners argued that Northern

workers were worse off than slaves.workers were worse off than slaves.Many whites believed that African Many whites believed that African

Americans were better off under white Americans were better off under white care tan on their own. care tan on their own.