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Antebellum Era Dbq

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The Antebellum era in America was a time of rapid reformation that largely shaped the future framework of the nation we live in today. The reformists in any and all of the movements sought to unify like minds to force change in society that they believed to be unjust or a hindrance to self-betterment. Many of their goals were successful, and the effects of the reformists can still be seen to this day. With their willingness to fight for equality and improved quality of life, the reformists in early America helped change the habits of citizens, the education of the American youth, the criminal justice system, the advancement of women’s rights in society, and ignited the debate on slavery more than it had ever been. The temperance crusade could …show more content…
The reformists who called for the education overhaul believed that education should be accessible to all Americans, and by doing so the nation would prosper when the bright minds of the youth would become contributing members to the society and greater economy (Brinkley 332). The reform process came with a greater focus on lengthening the school years, increasing the wages of teachers to make the profession more desirable, and building a well-encompassed curriculum for schools to follow (Brinkley 332). While this worked in some areas of the country, the process was lacking in others. The reformists succeeded in promoting the importance of education, as America grew to have one of the highest literacy rates of any country during the Antebellum …show more content…
These asylums worked to control these individuals but did little to correct and rehabilitate them to return to daily life. Asylums gave way to penitentiaries for criminals, and these prisons began to use solitary confinement and silent practices to allow criminals to reflect upon their transgressions and allow time for personal reflection (Brinkley 333). While the focus of these establishments was to correct prior transgressions, the reformist also sought a push for orphanages of correction, where children who showed signs of falling to crime would be given structure and guidance to keep them out of trouble (Brinkley

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