Reform Movements in the United States Sought Essay Example for Free

Reform Movements in the United States Sought EssayAs Americans entered an era of transition and instability, they sought to expand participatory ideals in the corporation. In solution to sudden changes occurring and traditional set being ch all toldenged, various reform movements during 1825-1850 began to focus on democratic ideals. The rise of religious revivals, movements for equal rights and protecting liberties of different mixer groups, want to advance society technologically, and desire to bring order and control helped reform the society to live up to the nations founding ideals. command them (I dont get who them is) the habits of thrift, orderliness, temperance and industry was a way to not only better their lives but a way to instill certain(p) democratic values and advance the perfection of society as a whole. The rise of popular religion and a series of religious revivals reinforced American democracy and liberty. The Second Great Awakening was a huge religious r eform movement that sought to re-captivate religious interest in America.One of its new-fashioned breakthroughs is its representation of democratic ideas, or a reworking of traditional religious institutions to better match the average Americans sensibilities and frontier intentstyles (Second Great Awakening). In this essay to capture interest, this new theology differed from the previous Calvinist viewpoint that populates predestined path to heaven or hell could only be altered by Gods choosing, in that the new theology emphasized individual free will, and equality in Gods eyes- a characteristic of democracy.These new theologies emphasized human choice. Reform of the individual human heart and overly broader social institutions was indeed possible (Second Great Awakening). Church ministers were take and churches believed in a priesthood of all believers. Such religious reforms sought to expand democratic ideals into the churches. The theology of the Second Great Awakening can be shared out into many different subdivisions which all spread out and became part of many reform movements to come.Before examining such future movements, it must be noted that The cash advance of the get on was also a reform movement that spread democratic ideals of around the same time frame as the Second Great Awakening. The reach of the Age empowers all the new American technologies and social reforms in its time (around 1825-1846). New technological reforms included adapting the time conserving sewing machine, and harnessing the potential of the locomotive. Religion, politics, the economy, and virtually everything else in America was being influenced by echnological reforms, turning life in American as something Senator Webster describes The world has seen nothing like it before (A Discourse, Delivered at Plymouth 61). The significance of all these technological advances lies in the inevitable social advances they initiated. The Progress of the Age focused on impro ving everyday life with the adaption of machine labor, allowing for a large drift of agricultural goods for the commonality man, increasingly cheaper goods, less expensive books/newspapers, and faster travel.As these technological revolutions guide to revolutions in habits, opinions, and moral values, people began to realize If machinery could be brought to such a state of perfection, why not society (Maier 369)? With all the social ideas related to technological progress, none were associated with the Progression of the Age, as the expansions of democratic ideals were. With the new leaps in technological advances, people built the impression that No reform is nowadays deemed impossible, no enterprise for human betterment impracticable (Maier 369). Of all the social ideas, the democratic ideas of striving for social equality, and benefitting the common good fit the technological age of progress best. Along with technological advancements, American literary productions was adva ncing too. New values such as favoring nature over Americas turn towards industrial capitalism and worst of all, the crass, money-grubbing materialism that seemed to grip more and more of their countrymen (Maier 371), as described in novels of James Fenimore Cooper, and Washington Irving were exposed to their readers.The Transcendentalist movement, founded by Ralph Waldo Emerson was populated by his essay Nature, as well as other works such as Henry David Thoreaus Nature. The increasing quality and affordability of such books as well as newspapers, with new perspectives and philosophies printed by new machines, allowed the common people attack to new knowledge. Society was now exposed to knowledge such as philosophy, current events, and political information which brought up the level of education of the common man. non only were books made cheaper and more available, an abundance of higher quality goods and services such as better foods, clothes, and a better transportation system now became available to the society. As Horace Greenley of the New York Tribune accounts We have universalized all the beautiful and glorious results of industry and skill We have made them a common possession of the people. We have democratized the means and appliances of a higher life (Art and Industry 58). Greenley is saying that the Progress of the Age has brought high quality goods previously only for aristocrats down to the common people, raising the living standard of the common people a true democratic value. Out of all these technological breakthroughs, the railroad became the symbol of the Progress of the Age and the expansion of democratic ideals. Even artists of the Hudson River School such as Thomas sugar recognized the locomotive in their paintings. In River in the Catskills, Thomas Cole blends the locomotive with nature, suggesting a natural harmony between them as Americans civilized the new lands.The locomotive became a symbol of the drive of civilization, spreadi ng it and Americas democracy to new, unseen horizons. These unseen horizons were discovered through the reforms in the Antebellum Era, whose roots were mainly evangelical religion tied into the belief that equality and redemption should be offered to everyone. This brought back tensions between the North and South when thraldom became an issue with those ideals, which made the acted reforms not beneficial a movement towards equality, but towards democracy as well.One of the most important reform movements in American history was the creation of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. The Declaration of Sentiments was established and those who wished to join the society had to sign the document which pledged to secure to the colored populationall the rights and privileges that belong to them as men and as Americans. This reform was different than most, because the people winding decided to use the old tactic of moral suasion instead of violence. These society members campaig ned across the U. S. especially aiming to influence the South. They published abolitionist newspapers and other literature to raise awareness, attempted to make antislavery societies in every state and every town, and eventually brought so many petitions to Congress that although the Gag Resolution tabled them, the awareness it elevated about slavery occurred everywhere. Not only was this the effect of the society, but it also showed Americans that all people could make a difference if joined together, not just the government, which expanded ideas of democracy.William Lloyd Garrison, among other strong abolitionists, acted as a leader in the fight for all-around equality in the United States. He dedicated his life to slavery abolition, publishing the newspaper, The Liberator and writing in it, On this subject, I do not wish to think, to speak, or write, with moderationI am in burning I will not equivocate I will not excuse I will not retreat a single pass on and I will be hea rd. Not only did his words anger people enough to cause the bloody slave revolt in Virginia led by Nat Turner, but it also made abolitionists of others as well.His words inspired Frederick Douglass to publish his newspaper, North Star, at Rochester. They inspired Theodore Dwight Weld to declare an end to slavery and leave the Lane Seminary and their white society with 75 others by his side, naming themselves the Lane Rebels. He spent the rest of his life being a utilise member of the Ohio Antislavery Society and giving speeches throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania, encouraging the establishment of other antislavery societies. Abolitionists for womens rights like Henry B.Stanton who was also a Lane Rebel, and his wife, Elizabeth Cady Stanton were also strong leaders, as well as the Grimke sisters in taking on the roles normally given to men. These powerful reformers were able to influence the population to join them in reforms, creating the sense that they could all make a difference together, and reform the republic government to a democratic one instead. With the idea of equality comes the idea of democracy, so when reform movements for slavery abolition and womens rights began, so did the widespread belief of a new democratic government.