The Antebellum PeriodThe Ferment of Reform and Culture (1790-1860)

Religion Church attendance was typical About ¾ of the 23 Million Americans went to church in 1850 Churches were not as strict as colonial days

Reasons: Rationalist Ideas from French Revolution Thomas Paine’s book “The Age of Reason.”

“[Churches were] Set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” –Thomas Paine

Deism Mode of thinking that emerged as a result of the Age of

Enlightenment Reason over Revelation Embraced by some of our Founding Fathers Many Deists believed in a supreme being, but not one that

completely runs our daily lives

Unitarians Spin off of Deism God exists in one person, not holy trinity Jesus is not divine Human nature is good God gave us free will Salvation can be achieved through good works God is a loving father

Unitarian movement Embraced by Ralph Waldo Emerson Applied to intellectuals who rejected Calvinism

The Second Great Awakening (Wait, one wasn’t enough?) Reaction against liberalism Began on the southern frontier and moved to the northeast

Only in North did it play a role in reform One of the most momentous episodes in the history of

American religion Camp meetings-giant groups of up to 25,000 people that

would last for several days Circuit riders

Charles Grandison Finney Regarded as the greatest of revival preachers He was a great speaker Was successful in converting over half a million people Allowed women to pray in groups Denounced alcohol and slavery Later served as president of Oberlin college in Ohio

Diversity in Religion Western New York became known as the burned over district

because so many preachers were preaching fire and brimstone.

In the 1830s William Miller and his Millerites (later becoming the Adventists), were influential in this area Believed that Jesus would return to earth on October 22 1844

Lines between classes and religions were widened

Churches start to split Slavery is still a huge issue at this time, especially with

churches Southern Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians were

splitting with their northern brethren over slavery This serves to be a HUGE precursor to the secession of

southern states

The Mormons In 1830 a man named Joseph Smith claims he received

some golden plates from an angel Once he interpreted them it formed the book of Mormon,

forming the Mormon faith Joseph Smith tried to preach and spread his revelation Met with heavy opposition, especially in the states of Ohio,

Missouri, and Illinois In 1844 Joseph Smith and his brother were murdered by a

mob in Carthage, Illinois

The Torch Is Passed Brigham Young manned the helm of the Mormon faith after

the death of Smith Brigham Young was stern, only had 11 days of formal

schooling, but was still a great speaker From 1846-1847 he led the Mormons across the plains of

Utah to settle out west Through a system of cooperative irrigation, the Mormons

were able to thrive in the desert

Public Education Tax supported primary schools were scarce in the early

republic The ones that were around were ragged and run down Lower class Americans pushed for free public education Tax supported public education lagged in the south, but

flourished in the north between 1825-1850 One room school houses were beginning to pop up “A civilized nation that was both ignorant and free never was

and never will be.”

Educational Reform Due to the bad conditions of public education, reform was

clearly needed Horace Mann, who was the Secretary of Massachusetts

Board of Education, pushed for better school conditions Wanted: Better school houses, longer school terms, higher pay

for teachers, and expanded curriculum Mann was very influential in several states, and some

improvements were made Unfortunately, education remained an expensive luxury for

many communities

More about Education Southern black slaves were legally forbidden to receive

education Northern free blacks were often turned away from schools Noah Webster: Very intelligent patriot who wanted to

establish an American language and named a dictionary after himself

Higher Education The 2nd Great Awakening led to planting of many small liberal

arts colleges In south and west Not strong academically Most had a very narrow curriculum First state supported universities sprang up in the south Women being educated was still frowned upon Oberlin college opened up to women too in 1837 Libraries start growing, door to door book peddlers help

knowledge grow, and Lyceum speakers become popular

An Age of Reform Lots of reform began at this time and religion played a

valuable role in this Several reformers still had a Puritan vision of the perfect

society-No cruelty, war, alcohol, or discrimination Many women became prominent in these reforms People wanted to reaffirm traditional values in an America

because things were becoming more industry based Huge reforms in prisons thanks to Dorothea Dix

“But Why is the Rum Gone?” The ever present drink problem attracted dedicated

reformers The American Temperance Society steps in.

They were groups of people that implored drinkers to sign a temperance pledge

made good use of propaganda to show the evils of alcohol Neal S. Dow was a reformer, employer, and Mayor of

Portland. He saw the effects of alcohol on his employees and was known as the “father of prohibition.”

Wilderness Utopias New Harmony Indiana- Founded by Robert Owen. A very

communal society. It had 100 thousand members, but fell apart in 2 years from confusion and fighting

Brook Farm Massachusetts- Founded by intellectuals. These people lived plainly, pursued life of the mind. However after their communal home burned down, they fell into debt and the community dissolved

Oneida community, New York- One of the more radical utopian communities. Practiced free love, birth control, and Eugenics

Shakers- Women originally brought over from England who had a lively dance worship, communal living, and practiced celibacy

Women in Revolt In the 19th century, it was still a very male dominated society

in Europe and America Wives were immersed to homes, submissive to husbands,

could not vote, could be legally beaten, and could not retain title to her property when she married

Women were thought to be artistic, refined, needed to teach the young how to be good citizens, and had to guide their husbands

Several women activists and reformers were able to gather influence halfway through the century

Women in Revolt Lucretia Mott- Took fellow female delegates to the London

anti slavery convention and were not recognized Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Primary author of Declaration of

Sentiments. Co founder of first women’s temperance movement

Susan B. Anthony-Co founder of first women's temperance movement

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell-First female graduate of medical school

Margret Fuller-Edited a well known journal at the time

More Women In Revolt Sarah and Angelina Grimke-Sisters who fought for women's

rights, as well as anti slavery Lucy Stone-Retained her maiden name after marriage Amelia Bloomer-Protested women’s clothing by wearing

Turkish Trousers Lucretia Mott-Woman who fought for women’s rights, as well

as anti slavery.

Seneca Falls The woman’s rights convention was held at Seneca Falls

New York It was a gathering of feminist activists where Elizabeth Cady

Stanton read her “Declaration of Sentiments.” This stated that “All men and women are equal,” and helped

launch the modern women’s rights movement Unfortunately this was mostly shadowed by the slavery issue

Health concerns In terms of basic science, Americans borrowed and adapted

the findings of Europeans Medicine was still behind at this time, and bleeding was still a

common cure Smallpox and yellow fever became rampart too Illness came from improper dieting, eating too fast, perspiring

and cooling off to rapidly, bad teeth, and ignorance of germs and sanitation

Artistic Achievements Architecturally, America contributed little in the first half of the

19th century American painters were relatively unsuccessful as well The Hudson river school helped out American painters

because it provided an American Artistic movement that produced romantic renditions of local landscapes

Music starts to come back from rhythmic and nostalgic black tunes that were popularized by whites

American Artwork

American Literature America didn’t have many books or authors Mostly they had old writings by founding fathers, or works that

were plagiarized British books There was a huge wave of nationalism after the war of 1812

which caused a desire for American authors Washington Irving- First American to win international recognition

as a literary figure. Wrote works like Rip Van Winkle and Sleepy Hollow. Helped Interpret Americans to Europeans and vice versa

James Fenimore Cooper-First novelist of America and also won international recognition. Regarded as being a nationalistic writer for his American themes.

Transcendentalism There was a golden age of American literature in the second

quarter of the 19th century “Literary and intellectual movement that emphasized

individualism and self reliance, predicated upon a belief that each person possesses an inner light that can point the way to truth and direct contact to God.”

Truth transcends the senses and cannot be simply observed Focuses on Individualism, self reliance, self culture, and self

discipline. Hostility to authority and conventional wisdom

Ralph Waldo Emerson Boston transcendentalist Used to be a minister, but became a writer to reach a wider

audience Gave an address called “The American Scholar,” Which

called for an intellectual declaration of independence It called for people to throw out European traditions and

establish a self image

Henry David Thoreau Close associate to Emerson Hated the fact that government supported slavery and

refused to pay a poll tax, winding up in prison He resisted bodily urges for a pursuit of truth through study

and meditation Ended up inspiring men like Gandhi and Dr. King

Walt Whitman A very romantic, emotional, and unconventional poet His collection of poems called leaves of grass didn’t catch on

at first, but eventually gained him popularity in Europe and America

He caught the exuberant enthusiasm of an expanding America that had turned its back on the old world

More great writers of the time Professor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow- one of the most

popular poets in America, he was accepted by less cultured masses and had wide knowledge of both European and American themes

John Greenleaf Whittier- A fighting Quaker who was also a poet. He wrote about anti slavery, and was a huge moving force behind the anti slavery movement

Louisa May Alcott- Female author who wrote books like little woman to support her mother and sisters

Emily Dickinson- A famous female American poet. Wrote brilliant poetry, but was rather reclusive

Doom and Gloom Writers Not all writers at the time had the same positive views about

man that Transcendentalism had Edgar Allen Poe- Master poet and writer. Had a morbid

sensibility opposite of America. Wasn’t popular in America at time, but was with Europeans

Nathaniel Hawthorne- Was enthralled with the Calvinist belief of original sin and the constant struggle of good vs. evil. Wrote the scarlet letter

Herman Melville- His writing tended not to be straightforward and upbeat, which is why his work didn’t really catch on until after his death. Wrote Moby Dick

George Bancroft Was a secretary of the Navy Helped found the Naval academy “Father of American History.” Wrote a super patriotic history of the U.S.

Major Points to take away Through religion, education, reform, women taking action,

advances in artwork, and literature, Americans started throwing off European identity and formed American identity and sense of self.