The Rise of EvangelicalismThe Rise of Evangelicalism
Separation of church and state gives all churches the chance to compete for converts
Pious Protestants form voluntary associations to combat sin, “infidelity”
The Second Great Awakening: The Second Great Awakening: The Frontier PhaseThe Frontier Phase
Camp meetings contribute to frontier life– provide emotional religion – offer opportunity for social life
Camp meeting revivals convey intensely personal religious message
Camp meetings rarely lead to social reform
The Second Great Awakening The Second Great Awakening in the Northin the North
In New England reformers defend Calvinism against the Enlightenment
Charles G. Finney rejects Calvinism to preach free will
Finney preaches in upstate New York Finney stresses revival techniques Revivals lead to organization of more
churches
From Revivalism to ReformFrom Revivalism to Reform
Northern revivals stimulate reform Middle-class participants adapt
evangelical religion to preserve traditional values
"The benevolent empire" of evangelical reform movements alter American life– e.g. temperance movement cuts alcohol
consumption by more than fifty percent
Domesticity and Changes in Domesticity and Changes in the American Familythe American Family
New conception of family’s role in society
Child rearing seen as essential preparation for self-disciplined Christian life
Women confined to domestic sphere Women assume crucial role within
home
Marriage for LoveMarriage for Love
Mutual love must characterize marriage Wives became more of a companion to
their husbands and less of a servant Legally, the husband was the
unchallenged head of the household
The Cult of DomesticityThe Cult of Domesticity
"The Cult of True Womanhood" – places women in the home– glorifies home as center of all efforts to
civilize and Christianize society Middle- and upper-class women
increasingly dedicated to the home as mothers
Women of leisure enter reform movements
The Discovery of ChildhoodThe Discovery of Childhood
Nineteenth-century child the center of family
Each child seen as unique, irreplaceable Ideal to form child’s character with
affection Parental discipline to instill guilt, not fear Train child to learn self-discipline
Institutional ReformInstitutional Reform
Domesticity to inform public institutions Schools continue what family begins Asylums, prisons mend family’s failures
The Extension of EducationThe Extension of Education
Public schools expand rapidly 1820-1850 Working class sees as means to advance Middle-class reformers see as means for
inculcating values of hard work, responsibility
Horace Mann argues schools save immigrants, poor children from parents’ bad influence
Many parents believe public schools alienate children from their parents
Discovering the AsylumDiscovering the Asylum
Poor, criminal, insane seen as lacking self-discipline
Harsh measures to promote rehabilitation– solitary confinement of prisoners– strict daily schedule
Public support for rehabilitation skimpy Prisons, asylums, poorhouses become
warehouses for the unwanted
Reform Turns RadicalReform Turns Radical
Most reform aims to improve society Some radical reformers seek
destruction of old society, creation of perfect social order
Divisions in the Benevolent Divisions in the Benevolent EmpireEmpire
Radical perfectionists impatient by 1830s, split from moderate reform– temperance movement – peace movement– antislavery movement
Moderates seek gradual end to slavery Radicals demand immediate
emancipation 1833--American Anti-Slavery Society
The Abolitionist Enterprise: The Abolitionist Enterprise: Theodore Dwight WeldTheodore Dwight Weld
Weld an itinerant minister converted by Finney
Adapted his revivalist techniques to abolition
Successful mass meetings in Ohio, New York
The Abolitionist Enterprise: The Abolitionist Enterprise: Public ReceptionPublic Reception
Appeal to hard-working small town folk Opposition in cities & near Mason-Dixon
line Opposition from the working class
– dislike blacks – fear black economic and social competition
Solid citizens see abolitionists as anarchists
The Abolitionist Enterprise: The Abolitionist Enterprise: ObstaclesObstacles
Abolitionists hampered by in-fighting William Lloyd Garrison disrupts
movement by associating with radical reform efforts– urged abolitionists to abstain from
participating in the political process– also got involved in women’s rights
movement Some abolitionists help form the Liberty
Party in 1840
Black AbolitionistsBlack Abolitionists
Former slaves related the horrible realities of bondage– prominent figures included Frederick
Douglass and Sojourner Truth Black newspapers, books, and
pamphlets publicized abolitionism to a wider audience
Blacks were also active in the Underground Railroad
From Abolitionism to Women's From Abolitionism to Women's RightsRights
Abolitionism open to women’s participation Involvement raises awareness of women’s
inequality Seneca Falls Convention in 1848
– Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton organize
– prompted by experience of inequality in abolition movement
– begins movement for women’s rights
Radical Ideas & Experiments: Radical Ideas & Experiments: Utopian CommunitiesUtopian Communities
Utopian socialism – Inspired by Robert Owen, Charles Fourier– New Harmony, Indiana—Owenite– Fourierite phalanxes
Religious utopianism– Shakers– Oneida Community
Radical Ideas & Experiments: Radical Ideas & Experiments: TranscendentalismTranscendentalism
Ralph Waldo Emerson Margaret Fuller George Ripley
– founded cooperative community at Brook Farm
Henry David Thoreau
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