SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF THE 1800STHE 1800S

SOCIETYSOCIETY

Social structureSocial structure– Favorable social mobilityFavorable social mobility– Three classes; Elite, Middle, PoorThree classes; Elite, Middle, Poor

FamiliesFamilies– Change in marriageChange in marriage– Change in parentingChange in parenting– ““Cult of Domesticity” Cult of Domesticity”

Emphasized gender roles, especially in Middle Class homesEmphasized gender roles, especially in Middle Class homes Men work outside the home, Women work inside the homeMen work outside the home, Women work inside the home

– ““Republican Motherhood”Republican Motherhood” Women show their patriotism and political values by raising Women show their patriotism and political values by raising

sons to be good citizenssons to be good citizens

ARTS & LITERATUREARTS & LITERATURE

PaintingPainting– Hudson River School-fascination with natural world, Hudson River School-fascination with natural world,

landscapeslandscapes ArchitectureArchitecture

– Greek style columnsGreek style columns LiteratureLiterature

– Nationalism-American authors & themesNationalism-American authors & themes– Washington Irving wrote?Washington Irving wrote?– James Fennimore Cooper wrote ?James Fennimore Cooper wrote ?– Nathaniel Hawthorn wrote?Nathaniel Hawthorn wrote?– Herman Melville wrote?Herman Melville wrote?

ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

MuseumsMuseums– Charles Wilson PealeCharles Wilson Peale

American Lyceum MovementAmerican Lyceum Movement– Traveling “lecture” programTraveling “lecture” program

““Bowery Boys & Gals”Bowery Boys & Gals”– Urban underground city lifeUrban underground city life

Minstrel ShowsMinstrel Shows– Comedic, racist, nativistComedic, racist, nativist

RELIGIONRELIGION

1820s-1830s-21820s-1830s-2ndnd Great Great AwakeningAwakening

North-”Burned-over District” North-”Burned-over District” (NY)(NY)

– Groups played major role Groups played major role in social reformsin social reforms

RevivalsRevivals Charles Finney-Perfection Charles Finney-Perfection

and helping societyand helping society South-increase in Baptists & South-increase in Baptists &

Methodists, by 1850 largest Methodists, by 1850 largest protestant groups in USprotestant groups in US

RELIGIONRELIGION

Examples of new religionsExamples of new religions– MillennialismMillennialism

Also called “Millerites”Also called “Millerites” Prominent belief-Prominent belief-

world would end on world would end on Oct. 21, 1844Oct. 21, 1844

After the date-After the date-religion declinedreligion declined

Led to Seventh-Day Led to Seventh-Day AdventistsAdventists

RELIGIONRELIGION

– Church of Jesus Christ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saintsof Latter Day Saints Known as MormonsKnown as Mormons Established in Established in

Burned-over district Burned-over district Utopian communityUtopian community

– Common Common propertyproperty

– PolygamyPolygamy Helped to settle the Helped to settle the

westwest

RELIGIONRELIGION

ShakersShakers– 6000 in 1840s6000 in 1840s– Believed in common propertyBelieved in common property– Separated men & womenSeparated men & women– Women equal to menWomen equal to men– Financially stable due to furniture makingFinancially stable due to furniture making– Died out in the mid 1900s-no new recruitsDied out in the mid 1900s-no new recruits

TRANSCENDENTALISTSTRANSCENDENTALISTS

Movement in Literature that led to change in Movement in Literature that led to change in societysociety

Famous authorsFamous authors– Ralph Waldo Emerson-Leaves of GrassRalph Waldo Emerson-Leaves of Grass– Henry David Thoreau-WaldenHenry David Thoreau-Walden

Essay-”On Civil Disobedience” influenced Gandhi & MLK jr.Essay-”On Civil Disobedience” influenced Gandhi & MLK jr. Questioned established religionsQuestioned established religions Believed artistic expression more important then Believed artistic expression more important then

the pursuit of wealththe pursuit of wealth Supported variety of reforms-especially abolition of Supported variety of reforms-especially abolition of

slaveryslavery

TRANSCENDENTALISTSTRANSCENDENTALISTS

TRANSCENDENTALISTSTRANSCENDENTALISTS

Formed 1Formed 1stst Utopian experiment Utopian experiment– 18411841– Brook farm in Brook farm in

MassachusettsMassachusetts– Led by George RipleyLed by George Ripley– Study the natural union Study the natural union

between intelligence & between intelligence & manual labormanual labor

– Most famous member-Most famous member-Nathaniel HawthornNathaniel Hawthorn

– Attracted the New England Attracted the New England eliteelite

– Ended in 1849-due to debts Ended in 1849-due to debts and a fireand a fire

COMMUNAL EXPERIMENTSCOMMUNAL EXPERIMENTS

New HarmonyNew Harmony– IndianaIndiana– Robert OwenRobert Owen– Political-SocialistsPolitical-Socialists

Common propertyCommon property– Failed due to finances & Failed due to finances &

argumentsarguments

COMMUNAL EXPERIMENTS COMMUNAL EXPERIMENTS

GrahamanitesGrahamanites– Sylvester GrahamSylvester Graham– 1830s in 1830s in

MassachusettsMassachusetts– Purity of bodyPurity of body– First vegetarianFirst vegetarian– Believed in whole wheat Believed in whole wheat

“graham” bread, fruits, “graham” bread, fruits, vegetables, cold water, vegetables, cold water, & exercise& exercise

– Condemned tobacco, Condemned tobacco, coffee, tea, alcohol, & coffee, tea, alcohol, & white flourwhite flour

COMMUNAL EXPERIMENTSCOMMUNAL EXPERIMENTS

OneidaOneida

– Highly ControversialHighly Controversial

– John NoyesJohn Noyes

– New York (1848)New York (1848)

– Common property-included Common property-included partnerspartners Religious belief-marriage Religious belief-marriage

interfered with love of Godinterfered with love of God

– Planned reproduction & child-Planned reproduction & child-rearingrearing

– Equality to womenEquality to women

– Economically prosperous due to Economically prosperous due to production of high quality production of high quality silverwaresilverware

REFORMSREFORMS

All began as persuasion through sermons & All began as persuasion through sermons & pamphlets, then moved to political actionpamphlets, then moved to political action

Temperance-prohibit alcoholTemperance-prohibit alcohol– 1826-American Termperance Society1826-American Termperance Society– 1840s-water served during parties in middle class 1840s-water served during parties in middle class

householdshouseholds– Immigrants largely opposed-no political powerImmigrants largely opposed-no political power– Factory Owners & politicians joined with reformers-Factory Owners & politicians joined with reformers-

Why?Why?– 1851; Maine becomes 11851; Maine becomes 1stst state to prohibit the state to prohibit the

manufacture & sale of alcoholmanufacture & sale of alcohol– Late 1850s, overshadowed by anti-slavery reforms Late 1850s, overshadowed by anti-slavery reforms

REFORMSREFORMS

Mental HospitalsMental Hospitals– Dorothea DixDorothea Dix– Professional treatment at state expenseProfessional treatment at state expense

PrisonsPrisons– Structure & discipline would bring moral reformStructure & discipline would bring moral reform– Auburn System (NY)-discipline but also moral instruction and work Auburn System (NY)-discipline but also moral instruction and work

programsprograms EducationEducation

– Horace MannHorace Mann– 1840s-tax supported public school system1840s-tax supported public school system– Compulsory attendanceCompulsory attendance– Longer school yearLonger school year– Teacher Preparation AcademiesTeacher Preparation Academies– McGuffey Reader-virtues of hard work & sobrietyMcGuffey Reader-virtues of hard work & sobriety

REFORMSREFORMS

Women’s Rights MovementWomen’s Rights Movement– Many women participated in reform movementsMany women participated in reform movements– Sarah & Angelina Grimke-”Letter on the Condition of Sarah & Angelina Grimke-”Letter on the Condition of

Women & the Equity of the Sexes” (1837)Women & the Equity of the Sexes” (1837)– Lucretia Mott & Elizabeth Cady StantonLucretia Mott & Elizabeth Cady Stanton– Seneca Fall Convention (1848) in NYSeneca Fall Convention (1848) in NY

Wrote document modeled after Declaration of IndependenceWrote document modeled after Declaration of Independence ““Declaration of Sentiments” Declaration of Sentiments” Listed women’s grievances against the governmentListed women’s grievances against the government Stanton & Susan B. Anthony begin the campaign for voting Stanton & Susan B. Anthony begin the campaign for voting

rightsrights– 1850s overshadowed by Abolitionists1850s overshadowed by Abolitionists