...rights and protect women from their tyrannical husbands" (Brinkley). The Antebellum reform movements created a new wave of women's rights movements. "Transcendentalism and utopian communities each had a sense of feminism within them. John Humphrey's image of a perfect community, Oneida Community, rejected the "traditional" ideas of family and marriage. Instead of just the mother taking care of a child, the whole community helps out. In Ann Lee's Shaker Society, the residents committed to celibacy. Men and women were equal in all aspects and god was neither male nor female. Utopian societies were "perfect" worlds that many people in this time period created. So women being viewed as equals in almost all of them was a big step in the women's rights...
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...In 1794 Eli Whitney invented one of the most significant machines in United States history, the cotton gin. What the cotton gin did was that it allowed cotton to be picked faster and easier. This influx of cotton aided the North in the manufacturing side, which led to a stable and reliable economy, and later a stable U.S. government. Because of the stabilizing U.S., many critics consider the Antebellum Period (1825-1850) as dull, characterless, and constant. However, through social discipline, education, and alcohol temperance, one can adjust to see that the reform movements during the Antebellum Period actually expanded democratic ideals. The Antebellum Period was marked and progressed along a time where no social discipline existed. During...
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...summer, for it was thought they could not feel the heat or the cold, and they most certainly did not deserve any better. Chains bound them together, but one woman made it her life’s ambition to break those chains of confinement and of inhumane, barbaric treatment that the mentally ill endured in the early 1800’s. This woman was Dorothea Lynde Dix. As a social reformer, teacher, writer, nurse and humanitarian, Dorothea Dix devoted her life to the welfare of the mentally ill and handicapped. Her methods of research, lobbying, and advocacy were both innovative and effective in changing the world’s perceptions of the mentally ill. The overall purpose of this paper is to trace her life from her early to later years, with an emphasis on her antebellum and Civil War career, and then take a final look at a hospital here in North Carolina she helped to establish. By doing so, one may learn how and why she was inspired to make it her life-long career to advocate for the mentally ill in the ingenious ways she did. Dorothea Dix was defined by her earliest beginnings. Born in Hampden, Maine on April 4, 1802, childhood unhappiness may have provided her with the trigger to develop such a longing and passion for those less fortunate. Her parents, Joseph and Mary Dix, provided Dorothea with a home life that was less than pleasant. Mary was mentally unstable, often listless and self-absorbed. Joseph, although a strict, Methodist preacher, was an abusive alcoholic (Langston...
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...Religious Sources of Reform A. Second Great Awakening--religious revivals among Protestants. 1. Unlike Puritans, who emphasized election, Arminian theology stated that salvation was a matter of individual choice. Individuals needed to repent, confess sins, and accept God's gift of salvation. 2. Focus on the Second Coming of Christ. Need for reform of society to hasten the new Kingdom of God. 3. Biggest impact among women. Evangelical mission to save others gave women more status, purpose. 4. Frontier revivals featured emotional appeals while providing social meetings for settlers B. New religious groups formed as instruments of reform 1. Utopian societies created in reaction to urban growth and industrialization. Emphasis on community and withdrawal from society 2. Shakers--socially radical. Abolished families, practiced celibacy and full equality between sexes. 3. Mormons--Organized by Joseph Smith in 1830 as a cooperative theocracy with himself as the Prophet. Because of persecution, Smith and his followers moved from New York to Ohio to Missouri to Illinois, where he was murdered by opponents. Succeeded by Brigham Young, who led migration to Utah. II. Non-Religious Utopian Communities A. New Harmony, Illinois. 1825. Socialist center founded by Robert Owen to be self-sufficient and existing without currency. Failed after several years. B. Brook Farm Experiment. Transcendentalist in orientation, rejecting society's standards and Enlightenment...
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...the 1906 General Election, one of the main reasons was the tariff reform. The Tariff Reform was a pressure group setup in 1903 to protest against unfair foreign imports to protect British industry from foreign competition. It was launched by Joseph Chamberlain; he wanted to reintroduce tariffs, with a lower level tariff for goods coming into Britain from the empire than for goods imported from non-empire countries. This policy was knows as imperial protectionism. Chamberlain argued, this would protect British jobs, help pay for social reforms and strengthen Britain’s position in the world be integrating the empire into an effective unit. At this time Balfour was the conservative prime minister and he was a very weak leader with not very many political skills he was also a weak leader, at this time he did not understand the working men’s reaction to the tariff and he allowed Joseph Chamberlain to make the Tariff Reform a key unionist policy from 1903 onwards this is showing us he could not control Joseph Chamberlain showing he was a weak and unsuitable leader. The Tariff Reform did damage the conservatives as there was a split in the party with people moving over to the liberals as the middle class and working class feared dearer foods and falling in living standards. The liberals voted for free trade so did disagree with the Tariff Reforms, Winston Churchill actually voted with the liberals against Tariff Reforms on the issue in 1904. This issue did help pull together and make...
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...Dr. Benjamin Rush During the 1700’s and 1800’s many injustices took place. Society needed reforming in many areas. Slavery and women rights were two of the social reforms that people were speaking and writing about. Slaves were view as property and women were viewed as second class citizens. Dr. Benjamin Rush was one of the most beloved physicians and social reformers during his time. Rush took the time to write about things he felt were injustices in society. Biography Early Life Rush was born on Christmas Eve in the year of 1745 to John and Susanna Rush. Rush lived on a plantation until his father died and he was sent to live with his uncle. Rush’s mother wanted him to go live with his uncle so that he can get a better education. Rush’s early life was influenced by the teachings of the Presbyterian Church. Rush and his mother were regular attendees at the Second Presbyterian Church. School Rush received his B.S. degree from the College of New Jersey which is now known as Princeton University. Rush went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland where he ultimately earned his degree in medicine in 1768 (Edwards, 1987). Rush also trained at St. Thomas Hospital in London. In 1769 Rush decided to return back to his home in Philadelphia to practice medicine. Rush also taught chemistry at the College of Philadelphia. Rush wrote the first textbook of chemistry (Edwards, 1987) Rush was an avid writer of when it came to speaking out against...
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...Although Alexander III enacted some social and economic reforms, most importantly those of industry, he did more to repress the people, strengthen autocracy, and remove the more liberal reforms of his father, so it would be fair to say that Alexander III was a reactionary. This was because fundamentally he was a believer in autocracy and nationality, and so only would only accept reforms that would strengthen these ideals, was necessary to keep up with other countries, or was neutral. So this hindered the social reform and progress, which was clearly wanted by some parts of the population, leading to him being defined as a reactionary. One way, in which it can be seen that Alexander II was a reactionary, was through his policy of Russification. This was a policy that was designed to unite the very diverse Russian empire into a uniform nation, in which everyone could define himself or herself as Russian and would therefore rally behind his ‘great Russian’ administration. This was however implemented forcefully. It involved harassing and repressing minorities such as Poles, Finns and Jews, forcing them to learn Russian by having all official paperwork printed in Russian and even expelling students who spoke their local language in school. This was reactionary behavior, because it stopped minorities creating their own national identities and trying to become politically independent, so here Alexander was clearly trying to hinder reform in order to try and maintain the size of his empire...
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...nation abandoned its agricultural past and embraced its factory-driven future, tremendous tensions gripped its society. These challenges led in part to the rise of the progressive movement, which sought to strengthen the American economy and political structure. The progressives were successful to a great extent in improving urban life and eliminating much of the political corruption which plagued the nation. An important area of reform was urban living conditions. Cities were constantly growing due to the increasing availability of jobs. This led to a need of lots of housing, quickly. It was built cheaply and most areas in the city turned into tenements and slums where crime went unpunished. Many families were crammed into the small buildings, most of which were unsanitary. Thus, disease quickly spread. However, the industrial revolution the nation experienced around the early 1900s led to improved city housing. This is because of the new technology that let richer people move farther out of the city and ride back in on the new automobiles and trolley systems. Since the wealthy moved out, a larger amount of poorer people could move in. Although there were no great reform movements due to the changing technology urbanization underwent a major reform. Another key area of reform was the Government reform. Laissez-faire capitalism overtook the nation. It allowed that private production was more successful without high taxation and the influence of a big government. This led to the...
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...Why Did a Campaign for Women's Suffrage Develop in the Years after 1870? The most important reason for the development of a campaign for women's suffrage after 1870 is the number of reforms that were taking place. This is important because women were involved in many of these campaigns so they were encouraged that they would be able to win suffrage for themselves. A campaign for women's suffrage developed in the years after 1870 due to several reasons. Women's necessity and craving for suffrage can partly explain the campaign, although it is also significant to consider why a campaign or fight was necessary, along with the reasons why this began after 1870. The primary reason women wanted suffrage was because of their inferior status to men. They wanted to improve this. For example women were not allowed to attend schools or colleges limiting their chances of becoming someone important and well respected in society. Their job range was very limited they could either work in mills, farms or stay at home and look after the house however the poor women were unable to stay home to look after the house, as they had to work to bring in income to support their families. This led to a campaign for women's suffrage because they were not happy about being treated as slaves. The men were the slave-masters and the women were the slaves. They wanted to change this so they could live independently and not to rely on men. But this would only happen if they were able to get education so they...
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...Gonzalez 1 Rachel Gonzalez AP U.S. History Mr. Cranston 20 March 2015 Chapters 12 and 13 Essay Assignment Major themes of history evolve as time progresses. From the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, massive shifts occur. Regarding work, exchange, and technology; America in the World; politics and power; as well as ideas, beliefs, and culture, the evolution between the centuries have changed the significant themes throughout the United States. Work, exchange, and technology play a huge role in Americans lives throughout each century. People rarely used money; services and products were paid for mostly through trades and barters. Home and work were not separated; they were the same place. Nobody stuck to a schedule; things were done as needed. Skills were acquired through apprenticeship. An apprenticeship lasted from three to seven years. Apprentices lived with their masters during this time period, while trading knowledge for labor. However, women were not allowed to have such apprenticeships. Women gained knowledge of domestic skills through their mother, as it was assumed that the women would marry. Some women would work respectably as: servants, laundresses, seamstresses, cooks, and food vendors—or not respected as prostitutes. Men directed the lives of family members and apprentices: deciding occupations for sons, marriages for daughters, etc. Women (the wives) were responsible for: food, clothing...
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...In the late 1800 america was undergoing many changes, with these changes there many problems. The social ills were attached many social reformers. The reform movements were so diverse that they conflicted. Some advocates protested censorship,other pressed for more censorship. Some reform movements sought to expand democracy , while the others sought to rein it in. Some supported greater political rights for Afriacaon Americans, while othere wanted to limite voting for immigrants and African Americans. The reform movement was by the influence of the Enlightenment from the 1700s and was sometimes referred to as the "Age of Enlightenment.The Enlightenment began in Europe, and was a part of the changes associated with the Renaissance, the Scientific...
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...A reform movement is a social movement that is done to make some type of change big or small. The change wanting to be made is a change that is to be made to society, and to those around you. During the early 1800s, a lot of reform movements were made. A lot of these reform movements that were made ended up being very successful in achieving their goals. However, during the process of a reform movement, not everyone is going to agree with what is being done. You will have some people who think it is pointless, and those who think the movement is necessary. Reform movements like the Temperance Movement, Public Education Reform Movement, and the Abolitionist Movement all have made an important impact on society and history, and were all very...
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... He was a very noble thinker, reformer, educationist and social revolutionary. Introduction Among many thinkers and theorists, one comes across in the field of education, a very simple yet convincing, and impressive contribution of Mahatma Jotiba Phule. For him education was not just literacy. If we look at the phenomenon in totality it will be clear that for him education was for social change in real sense of the term. He was the forerunner of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar as far as education of the down trodden is concerned. That is why Dr. Ambedkar had accepted him as “Guru”. Mahatma Phule was thinking always about the type of education which can be a powerful device for eradication of social evils. It was his firm conviction that if social reforms are to be effective and lasting, the individuals at all levels should be educated....
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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...
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...Revision Eng 434 November 6, 2013 The Bloomer Costume: Who Else Wears the Pants? The Emerging Woman of the Antebellum Period! Introduction For social activist, Amelia Bloomer, bloomers served as a uniform of women’s liberation in America. Whether it was luck or fate, the trend-setting slacks worn for comfort catapulted change in the arena of fashion and politics. Ridiculed by the public, mocked in cartoons, and denied entrance into political meetings, Amelia was admired and encouraged by her liberal-minded husband to be true to herself and to use her talent of writing to change the world. In this paper, I will argue that the Bloomer Costume provided America with a symbolism for comprehending a new kind of woman emerging on the scene during the Antebellum Period. The Bloomer Costume lithograph is one of the few pictures published by Currier and Ives depicting a female exemplifying beauty, strength, confidence, individualism and power, while striving to have a voice in society. At the time that bloomers were worn by Amelia Bloomer, our country began to witness the rise of the woman. Women in America were beginning to speak out for their right to be heard and considered in society. I will offer an interpretation of how the pants worn by Amelia Bloomer helped to fuel the Women’s Movement of the Antebellum Period. The History of the Bloomer Fashion and Dress Reform Bloomers are a man-like trouser worn underneath a shorter skirt. Although Amelia Bloomer popularized this...
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